F1: Lowe opts to leave Mercedes for Williams

Paddy Lowe has opted to leave his role as executive director (technical) at Mercedes ahead of an expected switch to Williams, according to multiple reports.

The technical chief was first linked with a move to Williams at the end of 2016, with talks regarding his future at Mercedes being delayed until the end of the season. The team was then handed the added challenge of finding a replacement for retiring drivers' champion Nico Rosberg, with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas emerging as the preferred candidate.

RACER understands Lowe's deal with Mercedes allowed him to agree a move to another team after Jan. 1, but the usual notice provisions would apply if he did so. However, with Lowe now deciding to leave, attention turns to whether the ongoing talks between Mercedes and Williams for Bottas could see Lowe's move fast-tracked.

Williams is without a chief technical officer following the departure of Pat Symonds at the end of 2016, with Lowe lined up to take on a senior position. Williams is understood to have been very strong in negotiations regarding the potential move for Bottas, with the team able to target a removal of Lowe's notice period as part of the deal. Sky Sports reports such an approach has proved successful and that Mercedes will allow Lowe to leave and immediately start work at Grove.

Mercedes declined to comment on Lowe's situation when contacted by RACER on Tuesday morning.

As the move is intertwined with the Mercedes pursuit of Bottas – with a deal for the Finn yet to be finalized as of Saturday – it is possible confirmation of a switch for the technical boss will not follow until the driver situation is complete.

Replacing Lowe would be another major job for Mercedes, with the former McLaren technical director having been part of the team that has won three consecutive championship doubles since arriving in 2013. James Allison is the most high-profile technical director available following his departure from Ferrari in July of last year, with the Briton having yet to agree a deal elsewhere despite being linked with a return to former team Renault.