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Dave Redding is leaving his role as McLaren team manager to join Formula 1 rival Williams.

Redding, who has spent the last 17 seasons with McLaren, will be replaced by chief mechanic Paul James.

"We can confirm David Redding is leaving McLaren Racing," a team spokesman told Autosport's sister publication Motorsport.com.

"He will be replaced by Paul James, who will become team manager, with a focus on the operational and managerial nature of the role.

"Our head of race operations Andrea Stella will assume some of the role's sporting responsibilities and engagement with the FIA.

"Kari Lammenranta will replace Paul as our new chief race mechanic."

Redding joined McLaren in 1995 as number one mechanic, having entered F1 with Benetton seven years earlier.

After two seasons with the Woking-based outfit, he left to help set up Stewart Grand Prix but returned to McLaren in 2000.

Redding joined the team's engineering department, working as a systems engineer before assuming the role of assistant race engineer alongside Phil Prew.

After a stint focusing on engineering the third car at races, Redding switched his attention operational aspects in 2009.