Pat Fry has started his new job at Williams, after closing the door behind him at Alpine, and according to the experienced professional, this is due to the ambitions of his former employer.
The now 59-year-old Pat Fry is seasoned in the F1 circus, having worked for Benetton, McLaren, Ferrari, Manor and Alpine since the 1980s. He has been working at Williams since November 1 and, together with James Vowles, he wants to guide the Grove formation back to the top.
In Abu Dhabi, Fry spoke to the press for the first time since his transfer and he did not spare his former employer.
“I look back on the first three years I was there and we improved Enstone dramatically. Year after year we built a better car. When you put the three cars side by side, each car was a huge step forward. That’s to the credit of everyone there. I think everyone there can be proud of what we have achieved in those three years,” Fry said in a conversation with the assembled press.
Although Fry was happy with the steps taken during those first three years, he also felt that fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship was perhaps the highest possible achievement.
Fry, who has worked for teams such as McLaren and Ferrari in the past, clearly lacked the right mentality in Enstone.
Last year, a real palace revolution took place at Alpine, as team boss Otmar Szafnauer was also dismissed. Fry stands up for his former boss and states that Szafnauer was never given a fair chance in Enstone.
“I think we did a good job of what we could control in Enstone. I’m not so sure Otmar got a fair chance to fix the case, because his hands were tied, to some extent, metaphorically speaking. As I said, I think everyone there can be proud of what we have achieved in those first three years. It’s always a shame to leave things behind, but I think I’ve taken them as far as I can,” he added.