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By Saajan Jogia
Sports Contributing Writer
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Williams Racing Formula One team has announced the appointment of Axel Kruse as the team's new chief operating director. Kruse replaces Fred Brousseau, who parts ways with the Grove-based team to return to his home in Canada.
Brousseau started his journey with Williams in 2023 as COO following a 26-year career with Pratt & Whitney. However, after two years, Williams has had to look for top talent that can aid the team in operating at a "championship level."
Kruse's link to Williams dates back to the early 2000s, when he worked for BMW. During this period, the German marque served as an F1 engine supplier for Williams. Kruse then moved to Sauber, where he worked as COO for 15 years.
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The role transition at Williams will be gradual once Kruse starts on September 1. Team principal James Vowles welcomed Kruse in a statement and thanked Brousseau for his contributions. He said:
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"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."
During Kruse's time with BMW, Williams finished second in the Constructors' Championship for two years. Addressing the "unfinished business," Kruse added:
"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."
Feeling proud of what the team had achieved, Brousseau said:
"Having actively embarked on our transformation journey over the past two years, we're now starting to see clear signs of progress — both from a business results and track performance perspective. With this sustainable positive momentum now in place throughout the organisation, the time feels right for me to return home and begin the next chapter of my journey.
"I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together and, above all, grateful for the passion and dedication of the people — they are the true heart of Williams. Being welcomed into this team and the world of Formula 1 has been a genuine privilege. I'll continue cheering proudly from afar as Williams pushes forward on its path back to the front of the grid."
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