Williams fans, it’s James!
Williams Racing’s new team principal James Vowles who transferred from Mercedes to the Grove-based outfit over the winter enjoyed his first day on the job on Monday.
The man who spent 21 years at Brackley and who helped guide Mercedes to countless wins and nine world titles has now officially succeeded his predecessor Jost Capito at the helm of Formula 1’s third most successful team behind Ferrari and McLaren.
And Vowles’ first order of business was to address a word to Williams’ many fans from behind the desk of his new office.
©Williams
“You join me today on my first day in Williams Racing, and I really struggle to put into words just how much it means to me, how I excited I am, and just really all the emotions that are bubbling inside me at the moment,” he said.
“In just a few days we’ll be in Bahrain testing in earnest and it’s for us an opportunity to really understand where the car is, and what we need to do from that baseline to move forwards.
“I had the pleasure of meeting already a huge number within this organisation and I frankly can’t wait to meet the remainder over the next few days.”
As excited as Vowles may be, the Briton is faced with a daunting task to transform Williams from a lower tier contender in Formula 1 to a top midfield outfit.
From structural changes to deeper cultural transformations, Vowles has committed to steering Williams into a new era, with the ambition of restoring the prominence the British outfit once enjoyed in F1.
Vowles will have his work cut out for him in the coming years to fulfil that objective, but one George Russell, who spent his first three years in F1 at Williams, believes that Mercedes’ former strategist is the best man for the job.
“I’m sure he’s going to have a few surprises when he goes to Williams, naturally, when you’ve spent so long at such a team with so many championships under his belt,” Russell said last week at Mercedes’ launch.
“But, to be honest, I can’t think of anybody better Williams could have hired for the job they need to undertake.
“I’m really happy for James. I think he thoroughly deserves the opportunity and he’s an incredibly hard worker.”
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Williams: A word from the boss on his first day at work F1i.com.
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