Key Mercedes figure new face of Williams

Mercedes, it’s James… could of been how James Vowles revealed to Mercedes he will leave Brackley to become Williams’ new team principal.

Vowles’ voice is well-known amongst F1 fans, given he has often been the one to deliver team orders to Mercedes drivers, especially Valtteri Bottas in the past, with the “Valtteri its James” line going viral.

But now Vowles will become a much more prominent figure being the new leader of Williams at an interesting juncture in the famous team’s journey.

Lewis Hamilton sprays then Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles with champagne after winning a thrilling 2016 Austrian Grand Prix. Photo: Motorsport Images

Williams is looking to bounce back from a tough 2022 campaign where it returned to being the slowest car on the grid and lost former team principal Jost Capito and technical director FX Demaison at season’s end.

It is a big jump for Vowles stepping up to the top role for the first time in his 21-year F1 career, which has featured stints at BAR, Honda, Brawn GP and Mercedes.

At the latter he played a key role behind the silver arrows’ eight straight constructors titles from 2014-2021, working closely with Toto Wolff.

Vowles will turn to those skills as he joins Andrea Stella at McLaren as a team principal rookie on the F1 grid this year, while Ferrari and Sauber also have new leaders.

James Vowles (right) during his Honda days at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix. Photo by Motorsport Images

The 41-year-old said it will be a “huge honour” to lead the famous Williams team.

“The team is an icon of our sport, one I greatly respect, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge,” said Vowles.

“Mercedes have been hugely supportive on my journey, and we part on excellent terms after over 20 years of working in Brackley. I am grateful for everything Toto and the team have provided, and it has been such a special experience to journey together through failure and success.

“Williams Racing have placed their faith and trust in me, and I will do the same in return. Williams has tremendous potential, and our journey together starts in a matter of weeks.”

Vowles’ former boss Wolff was nothing, but supportive of his old technical director’s new venture, wishing “every success” for him and the Williams, which is a Mercedes customer team and the first home of current driver George Russell.

“I have no doubts whatsoever that he has all the necessary skills to become a fantastic team principal in Formula 1,” said Wolff.

“We wish him every success and are delighted that he will take this next step in his career with Williams, a strong technical partner of ours and one that has a place close to my own heart.”

Wolff also revealed Vowles had stepped back from pit wall duties midway through 2022 and was instead stationed at the Brackley base.

James Vowles’ attention will jump from Mercedes to Williams in 2023.Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images

Despite the connection with the three-pointed star, Vowles made it clear he intends on pushing Williams further up the grid on its own, and does not want the team to become a “mini Mercedes”.

“I wouldn’t consider it a mini Mercedes,” said Vowles.

‘Williams is an incredibly independent team in its own right that has formed its own history and heritage.

“When we asked our senior leadership team (at Mercedes) what’s the most important element? It always came back to two things at Mercedes – people and culture.

“Now we’ll see before setting foot in there (at Williams), I’m unsure where we are at the moment, but making sure that everyone understands that it’s about working together is the highest thing on my priority list.

“It’s about empowerment, it’s about treating your colleagues with the respect that you want back from them, the growth you want back from them, so that we can work together towards an end goal.”

Vowles will commence his duties on February 20, three days before F1 pre-season testing begins in Bahrain.

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