Williams Appoint Mercedes Veteran Dan Milner as Chief Engineer – Vehicle Technology

In a major boost to their technical restructuring, Williams Racing has announced the appointment of Dan Milner as their new Chief Engineer – Vehicle Technology. Milner joins the Grove-based team from long-time rivals Mercedes, bringing with him two decades of high-level Formula 1 experience and a proven track record in translating engineering innovation into on-track success.

Milner spent 14 years at Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters, having followed the team through its evolution from Honda, to Brawn GP, and finally into the dominant Silver Arrows era. Over that period, he contributed to multiple World Championships, including all eight consecutive Constructors’ titles from 2014 to 2021. His roles evolved from early positions in simulation and design to senior leadership, most recently as Chief Engineer for Research & Development. In this capacity, he oversaw critical advancements in powertrain integration and transmission design.

Outside of Formula 1, Milner has also worked in high-performance environments such as Ineos Britannia’s America’s Cup sailing programme and in the defence sector, further broadening his engineering expertise. Williams highlighted that Milner will now be “accountable for Vehicle Technology, driving on- and off-car performance through complex, integrated technology programmes.”

His mandate includes championing first-principles engineering, accelerating development across hardware, simulation, testing, and quality control, and strengthening integration between design initiatives and car performance. A central goal will be to ensure faster conversion of innovative concepts into tangible race results.

"I’m thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team as Chief Engineer across Vehicle Technology," said Milner. "After 20 years of association with Brackley, it’s the right moment to take on a new challenge. Williams has a clear, ambitious plan to move forward, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and knowledge to help accelerate that journey. I can’t wait to meet the team, learn the organisation and get to work converting ideas into performance on track."

Matt Harman, Technical Director at Williams, emphasized Milner’s leadership qualities and technical acumen, stating: “Dan brings broad experience and clear leadership. He has led major programmes across R&D and powertrains, turning ideas into performance, and he knows how to bring teams together to deliver.”

Harman added: “Dan will be central to our vehicle technology plan and to converting innovation into consistent performance gains on track, so we’re thrilled to have him on board as we continue our plans of bringing Atlassian Williams F1 Team back to the front of the grid.”

The hiring underscores Williams’ aggressive push to rebuild their technical department and close the performance gap to the front-running teams in the upcoming seasons, particularly as key regulation changes loom in 2026.