Engineer says Williams and McLaren need changes

An anonymous engineer admits that once-great F1 teams Williams and McLaren need to make sweeping changes to stop their struggles.

Both sides are struggling noticeably this season and the engineer has worked for both teams in the past and he admits their need for changes.

"Both are mature teams with loyal employees," the engineer told Auto Motor und Sport.

"But many people at McLaren and Williams have never known anything else. They don't know how Formula One has evolved or what other teams look like.

"If you tell them how the other teams have evolved, they don't believe you. They live in their own world and the great heritage of their racing teams."

Both teams have acknowledged that they need to make changes.

Claire Williams is reportedly considering her role at Williams following their awful season thus far.

McLaren boss Zak Brown also admits that things must change at McLaren too.

"We have to change our structure," Brown said.

"We have many good people who cannot show their talent. Decision making process are too long and communication is not good enough internally. And we need expertise from outside to understand new ways of thinking."

There are reports that Williams will sign Force India staff if the team folds, with also speculation they could become a Mercedes 'B' team.

"It's a very similar story going on at Williams as is going on at McLaren," said Claire Williams.

"We're undertaking a full evaluation of our internal structures and processes at the moment. We haven't completed that work yet, so we don't have any news to announce."