Patrick Head has finally called it a day and quietly departed from the Williams F1 team to pursue his lifelong ambition of being a pole dancer.
Well, one of those facts is correct, anyway.
Head has been in F1 longer that I've been unclear as to what the hell it is I am actually doing - and believe me, that's a bloody long time indeed.
The somewhat intimidating Head was engineering Robin to Frank Williams' making-the-deals Batman, and the pair of them have racked up brilliant championships with some of the greatest names in F1, including my favourite, Damon Hill.
But the team haven't won a race since that surly chap with a penchant for swearing, wild talent AND massive recklessness (not to mention a commendable ability to annoy the hell out of Schumi), Juan Pablo Montoya, was with the team in the mid 90's. Heading for 20 years later at an alarming rate, it's clear that the once great team have lost their way, and have been quietly putting new people in place to try and recapture their glory days.
Head was the man who oversaw the early careers of most of the top engineering guys now playing leading roles in F1, and a man to strike fear into the hearts of the drivers. Getting a bollocking from Patrick must have been like being shouted at by a truck - he was pretty likely to run you over for good measure too.
That he has left when the team is at its lowest ebb is a shame. I'm sure he would love to be there when they win their next race, but retirement age is upon him, and the youngsters are needed to bring fresh thinking and a return to the days when seeing a Williams-Renault meant you were looking at the race winner before the lights had even gone out.
I hope that day comes soon. Thanks Patrick - F1 won't be the same without you. Or those shades.
(CD tonight is some OTT rock from The Darkness - Permission To Land. *Rock hand gesture and pout*)
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