Mercedes chief strategy officer James Vowles will join Williams as team leader on February 20, filling the vacancy left by Jost Capito last month.
Vowles is best known for his role in race strategies at Mercedes, including occasionally sending drivers messages via team radio to explain wall decisions. However, he has stopped being directly involved in strategic decisions from mid-2022 to work in a broader management role and has long been tasked with overseeing its young driver program.
He comes to Williams with two decades of F1 experience and extensive knowledge of Mercedes, having spent his career working at the Brackley-based team through a number of different ownerships from during the British American Racing Championship.
“I can’t wait to get started with Williams Racing,” Vowles said. “It’s an honor to join a team with such an incredibly rich heritage.
“The team is an icon of our sport, someone I have a lot of respect for and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“Mercedes has been so supportive in my journey and we part ways on great terms after more than 20 years at Brackley. I’m grateful for everything Toto [Wolff] and the team provided, and it was a special experience to journey together through failure and success.
“Williams Racing has placed their trust and confidence in me, and I will do the same in return. Williams has great potential and our journey together will begin in a few weeks.”
The Williams F1 team, which won nine constructors’ championships in the 1980s and 1990s, finished last in four of the last five F1 championships after a steady decline over the decades. recently.
Capito, Vowles’ predecessor, was recruited by current owner Dorilton Capital to turn the team around after the investment firm bought it from the Williams family in August 2020. He lasted two years. season, overseeing initial progress in 2021 with an eighth place in the championship, before Williams dropped to last place under new technical regulations last year.
Technical director Francois Xavier Demaison, who was recruited by Capito to Williams after working with him at Volkswagen, also left last December.
Matthew Savage, chairman of owners Dorilton, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to Williams Racing. He is one of the most highly-regarded talents in Formula 1 and will bring a lot more. efficiency.
“He has been a key part of some of the most impressive feats in the sport over the past 15 years. As we continue our relentless pursuit to achieve results, we believe the appointment of James will reinforces our dedication to ensuring we have dynamic, experienced people and strong leadership as we move into the next phase of Williams Racing’s transformation.”
Williams will hold a pre-season launch event at its factory on February 6, at which drivers Alex Albon and the new US contract sergeant logan will reveal the team’s new car paint colors for 2023.
