It’s been two years since James Vowles stepped up to be a team principal for Williams Racing. The Briton first took on the role back ahead of the 2023 season. He left his previous role as head of strategy at Mercedes.
Despite being the joint second most successful team on the Formula One grid in terms of Constructor’s Championships won, the Grove-based team has been struggling to replicate the results of their glory days over the last two decades.
Vowles was handed a team that finished last in the Constructors’ Championship in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022. With the mission to change things up. It was a tall task to ask from Vowles but many would agree he’s on the right track.
A raise in Vowles’ confidence
During the FW47 car launch, Vowles was asked how his confidence as team principal has changed over the years. He started out as an engineer at Brackley during the BAR and Honda days.
“I’m a lot more confident in myself and understanding what I can do, how I need to do it, and how we need to achieve results.
“In part, that’s because I’ve developed as a human being. As you would expect, it’s a couple of years in the role.”
The Briton also showed appreciation for the staff at Williams speaking on the growth of the team since he first took it under his wing, as well as the growth that is happening.
“In part, because the organisation we’ve been spending the last few years and carrying on in 25, just digging down to foundations, making a lot of changes.
“Just putting some stats around it, we’ve grown from about 700 to over 1050, and we still have more hires incoming. We have some excellent names that have joined us that are by my side now that we didn’t have before.”
Williams’ 2025 challengers
Williams is entering the 2025 season with a new driver line-up of Alex Albon and ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
This would be the Thai’s fourth season with the team, having previously push Williams into points on many occasions.
Sainz on the other hand is the newest introduction to the team. The Spaniard was let go by Ferrari to make way for Hamilton’s arrival to the Scuderia. He is to compete for Williams from 2025 and beyond. The Spanish driver is a four-time race winner and could be what the team needs to start moving back toward the front.
“We have, I think, class leading drivers that are leaders that are able to help and support me in this journey. That will always give you confidence because you don’t feel as though you are a single point of failure anymore, but rather you have an organisation and a structure around you that has the depth necessary to perform on a world stage.”
Event success
Vowles also spoke on the success of the event, showing off the competency and commitment of the Williams F1 mechanics and team.
“We did a live event where we sent the car out and the minute that we sent it to go out on, and that car was built last night at 4am. All the components came together and we sent that car out just a few hours after that.
“That’s leading edge that most organisations wouldn’t let you into their world to show, but it’s a demonstration of where we come from and that we mean business and where we’re going to.”
