THE world championship winning Williams Formula One team could soon be locked in legal action with their chief designer over the terms of his contract. Only weeks after matching Ferrari's record by clinching the constructors' championship for the ninth time, their chief designer Adrian Newey is trying to leave the team to double his salary by accepting a reputed £1 million contract to join the rival McLaren Mercedes team.
Understandably, Frank Williams is unwilling to allow Newey to leave before his contract expires at the end of July 1999. However, his key employee is understood to be irked at hat he sees as the lack of recognition of his work in developing a succession of pace setting Williams Renault machines since he joined the team in 1991.
It is believed that a request to be given a share holding in the company, or a substantial pay rise, has been rejected by Frank Williams. However, Newey's possible departure will be a matter of considerable concern to Williams co director Patrick Head, the team's technical director who has increasingly delegated more of the design work to his colleague over the past four years.
"Adrian Newey is still employed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, although there is a disagreement over the terms of his contract," said a press communique issued yesterday by the team. "He is currently on leave."