Williams Team Principal Jost Capito is to leave the Williams Racing team ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

German Capito joined the Grove-based team when current team owners Dorilton Capital purchased the outfit from the Williams family in 2021.

Capito, 64, said: “It has been a huge privilege to lead Williams Racing for the last two seasons and to lay the foundations for the turnaround of this great team.

“I look forward to watching the team as it continues on its path to future success.”

Dorilton chairman Matthew Savage thanked Capito for his “hard work and dedication”, adding: “We’re grateful that Jost postponed his planned retirement to take on this challenge and now he will pass the reins on for the part of this staged process.”

The teams’ Technical Director FX Demaison also leaves, following his appointment in 2021.

2022 was a tough season for the nine-time Constructors’ Champions, finishing bottom to the standings as the FW44 was not a great first attempt at F1’s new era of design regulations, scoring just eight-points from 22 races with drivers Alexander Albon, Nicholas Latifi and Monza-substitute Nyck De Vries.

However, as Savage claims this is all part of a “staged process” it does not appear to be a reaction to the teams’ 2022 results.

Williams stated that a new Team Principal and replacement Technical Director will be announced in due course.