F1: Williams Appoints Axel Kruse as Chief Operations Director Ahead of 2026 Regulations

Williams Racing is making big moves off the track as it aims to rise through the Formula 1 ranks. Starting September 1, Axel Kruse will step in as Chief Operations Director. With nearly 20 years in F1 and 15 of those at Sauber, Kruse knows the game well. He’s also no stranger to Williams—he worked with the team during his BMW days, when they were serious title contenders.

Current COO Fred Brousseau will leave later this year to return to Canada. Since joining in 2023, Brousseau has helped modernise the team’s operations and improve efficiency. Before he heads out, he’ll work closely with Kruse to make sure everything transitions smoothly.

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James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing: 'I am excited to welcome Axel to Atlassian Williams Racing as we continue to invest in the people, technology and infrastructure needed to achieve our goal of returning to the front of the grid. Axel is the latest top talent to join us from within the F1 paddock and will continue the important work started by Fred to make our operations truly Championship-level. I would like to thank Fred for everything he has done, and we all wish him well as he returns home to Canada.'

We are delighted to announce that Axel Kruse will be joining Atlassian Williams Racing as Chief Operations Director from September 2025.

Axel brings almost two decades of leadership experience working in Formula 1.

Read more at the link below.

— Atlassian Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) July 29, 2025

Axel Kruse, Chief Operations Director, Williams Racing: 'I am thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams Racing and can’t wait to get started. Williams is an iconic Formula 1 team with huge ambition and momentum, and I look forward to working with everyone at Grove to deliver success on track. As a young engineer, I saw first-hand the professionalism and passion at the team as we finished second in the Constructors’ Championship – there is unfinished business, and the target must be to finish first.'

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In another important move, Williams has promoted Matt Harman to Technical Director, Engineering. Harman joined from Alpine last year and brings decades of F1 experience, including work on seven title-winning cars. With these leadership changes, Williams is putting fresh talent and experience at the heart of its F1 journey.