Geoff Willis
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey "Geoff" Willis is the Technology Director of Mercedes GP
. He was also the Technical Director of Red Bull Racing
team from 2007 to 2009 and Technical Director of Hispania Racing from 2010 to 2011.
In 1987 after a degree at Exeter University in fluid dynamics, he was approached to join the design team of the Peter de Savary's British America's Cup challenge and he spent the next three years designing and developing hull and keel designs for the team in preparation for the competition in San Diego. Prior to working for Honda, Willis was employed as chief aerodynamicist by the Williams Formula One team and also worked as a consultant at the Leyton House
team in the early 1990s. While at Leyton House, Willis met Adrian Newey
and it was through this association that he joined Williams, after Newey was recruited by the British
team. When Newey moved to rival McLaren in 1997, Willis was promoted, alongside Gavin Fisher
, to take his role.
Willis joined the British American Racing
outfit in 2001, which was later bought by Honda in 2005. His status within the team became unclear as of 22 June 2006, following the appointment of Shuhei Nakamoto
as Senior Technical Director. Willis had been told to stop going to races in order to focus on aerodynamics, which appeared to conflict with the appointment of Mariano Alperin-Bruvera to head the aerodynamics group using Honda's new full-size wind tunnel. Willis eventually left the team later in the year. On July 17, 2007, Willis was hired by Red Bull Racing
as the team's Technical Director, once again under Newey. He left Red Bull in July 2009 for unknown reasons.
Willis joined the new Hispania Racing F1 Team in March 2010. In September 2011 he left HRT, reportedly because the team hadn't assured him of necessary financial backing for designing the car for 2012 Formula One season
and joined Mercedes GP
as Technology director on October 17th, 2011.
Mercedes GP
Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season....
. He was also the Technical Director of Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
team from 2007 to 2009 and Technical Director of Hispania Racing from 2010 to 2011.
In 1987 after a degree at Exeter University in fluid dynamics, he was approached to join the design team of the Peter de Savary's British America's Cup challenge and he spent the next three years designing and developing hull and keel designs for the team in preparation for the competition in San Diego. Prior to working for Honda, Willis was employed as chief aerodynamicist by the Williams Formula One team and also worked as a consultant at the Leyton House
Leyton House Racing
Leyton House Racing was a Formula One constructor that raced in the 1990 and 1991 seasons.It was, in essence, a rebranding of the March team which returned to F1 in 1987. Leyton House, a Japanese real estate company, had been the team's marquee sponsor since that year, and went on to buy the team...
team in the early 1990s. While at Leyton House, Willis met Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey is a notable Formula One engineer and widely regarded one of the great engineers in the sport's history. He is the only designer to have won Constructors Championships with three different Formula One teams...
and it was through this association that he joined Williams, after Newey was recruited by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
team. When Newey moved to rival McLaren in 1997, Willis was promoted, alongside Gavin Fisher
Gavin Fisher
Gavin Fisher was formerly Chief Designer of the Williams Formula One team. He studied mechanical engineering at Hatfield Polytechnic, which was famous for its aeronautical engineers, graduating with a first class honors degree. He was hired by Williams through an add in the media in 1988...
, to take his role.
Willis joined the British American Racing
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
outfit in 2001, which was later bought by Honda in 2005. His status within the team became unclear as of 22 June 2006, following the appointment of Shuhei Nakamoto
Shuhei Nakamoto
Shuhei Nakamoto is the vice-president of Honda Racing Corporation.-Career:Nakamoto joined the Honda Racing Corporation in 1983 and his initial work was based around the corporation's motorcycle racing operations at Honda Racing Corporation...
as Senior Technical Director. Willis had been told to stop going to races in order to focus on aerodynamics, which appeared to conflict with the appointment of Mariano Alperin-Bruvera to head the aerodynamics group using Honda's new full-size wind tunnel. Willis eventually left the team later in the year. On July 17, 2007, Willis was hired by Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
as the team's Technical Director, once again under Newey. He left Red Bull in July 2009 for unknown reasons.
Willis joined the new Hispania Racing F1 Team in March 2010. In September 2011 he left HRT, reportedly because the team hadn't assured him of necessary financial backing for designing the car for 2012 Formula One season
2012 Formula One season
The 2012 Formula One season will be the 63rd FIA Formula One season. 2012 will be the penultimate year of the current 2.4 litre V8 engine configuration, before being replaced by more environmentally friendly 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines in 2014...
and joined Mercedes GP
Mercedes GP
Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, the trading name of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, is a British-based Formula One racing team and constructor, owned by Mercedes-Benz and racing under a German licence since the 2010 season....
as Technology director on October 17th, 2011.