Photo credits: Williams Racing
After this year’s chaotic Australian Grand Prix weekend, Williams Racing Team Principal James Vowles reflected on having a competitive package at the first three races of the 2023 F1 season. As well as this, Vowles explained the importance of looking beyond the current year.
Williams Racing Team Principal, James Vowles, presents a race debrief online to fans after each grand prix. The segment is called ‘The Vowles Verdict’ and features Vowles sharing the secrets of the race in the say we he did during Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s own midweek race debrief.
Despite leaving Melbourne without points, Vowles’ most recent verdict showed how happy he is with the competitive nature of the FW45 package:
“What’s clear is of the first three races we have been in a position to fight for points at all of them…it gives me hope as we move forward for the remainder of the season that we have a car that will be there or thereabouts. We are doing our utmost to develop it but by keeping also an eye on the future. We cannot lose the target that we want to be a step more competitive next year and the year afterwards and the only way you can accomplish that is at the sacrifice of what you have this year within the cost cap,” explained Vowles in response to a fan submitted question.
Williams Racing are currently bottom of the F1 Constructors’ Championship on a single point. They are level with AlphaTauri but prop up the table due to less impressive finishing positions compared to Red Bull Racing’s sister team.
Having had such a competitive package in Melbourne (before Logan Sargeant qualified out of his expected position and Alex Albon’s lap 8 DNF) it may be easy to assume that those in the ranks of Williams would feel hard done by. Vowles though, explained how despite the race weekend outcome not living up to their expectation – confidence is high at Williams Racing nonetheless.
“It’s a disappointing weekend, a frustrating weekend but actually as I walk around, everybody’s shoulders are held high. We have a car that across 3 tracks – three tracks that are different In their own characteristics. different tarmacs, different situations, different tyres – has been there or thereabouts fighting for points. That’s something that always will keep you elevated and frustration only comes from the fact that we know we haven’t delivered the points that the car is capable of. I think our heads are very much held high and I’m certainly looking forward to the future and I can’t wait for Baku,” said Vowles.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is held on a street circuit and is another track where Williams Racing think they can be in the fight for points. The extended break due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix is over soon and the mindset of the Grove based team will be back on display. As James Vowles reiterated by stating: “We go to the same race with the same attitude every single time. Which is that we will do our utmost and walk away with a point if it’s there on the table for us to take.”
Williams Racing are some way off being back at the front where they inevitably want to be. However, the season is a long one and the team has plenty of time to improve on their current position in the table and every expectation to perform even better in the years to come.
