Williams have announced that executive director Toto Wolff will leave the Formula 1 team for Mercedes.

The former racing driver, who is also a shareholder in the team, will keep his stake in the outfit but it is understood that he will take up the head of motorsports role at Mercedes, according to Sky Sports News.

Team principal Sir Frank Williams said in a statement: "I would like to thank Toto for his hard work, dedication and commitment to the team during his time as a Director of the Company.

"However, positions such as the one offered to him by Mercedes do not come around often. Toto has a long history with them and I certainly was not going to stand in the way of him accepting this once in a lifetime opportunity."

Wolff joined the board of directors at Williams in 2009.