FORMULA One's champion team Williams, have served a writ on their chief designer Adrian Newey in a dispute over the terms of his contract.

The world constructors' champions said in a prepared statement that Newey was "currently on leave" and the dispute was "an internal matter".

Newey, who expressed disappointment at the decision not to retain world champion Damon Hill for next year, is reported to have received several attractive offers from other teams, including one from McLaren.

Newey, the most successful aerody namicist in Formula One, has established a celebrated partnership with technical director Patrick Head and is well advanced in the design of the Williams 1997 car.