British Formula One team Williams have announced that Mercedes strategist James Vowles will be replacing Jost Capito as their Team Principal.
Vowles is no stranger to the sport and has over two decades of experience. He previously worked in engineering and strategy roles at Honda Racing, Brawn GP, British American Racing (BAR) and has been with Mercedes since 2010, when the German team returned to the sport. Vowles has enjoyed tremendous success with Mercedes and served as their Motorsport Strategy Director most recently, a position which he held for more than four years. He previously has also enjoyed success with the Brawn GP team, whom he served as Race Strategist for Jenson Button in 2009, when the latter was crowned the Drivers’ Champion and the team won the Constructors’ Championship as well. Vowles has overseen a total of nine Constructors’ Championships and more than 120 race wins.
Capito and Williams’ Technical Director François-Xavier Demaison both left Williams in December 2022, with Capito’s move coming at a time when the Formula One team boss market saw a host of changes, such as Frédéric Vasseur moving to Ferrari, replacing Mattia Binotto, Andreas Seidl leaving McLaren to join Alfa Romeo and replace Vasseur, while Andrea Stella replaced Seidl at McLaren.
With Vowles joining Williams, the movement in Formula One’s managerial departments keeps on ticking.
James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing, commented:
“I cannot wait to start with Williams Racing. It’s an honour to join a team with such an incredibly rich heritage. The team is an icon of our sport, one I greatly respect, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge. Williams Racing have placed their faith and trust in me, and I will do the same in return. The team has tremendous potential, and our journey together starts in a matter of weeks.
“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 [Wolff] and the team have provided, and it has been such a special experience to journey together through failure and success.“
Matthew Savage, Chairman, Dorilton Capital, said:
“We are delighted to welcome James to Williams Racing. He is one of the most highly respected talents in Formula 1 and will bring performance. 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 for results, we believe that the appointment of James reinforces our dedication to ensuring we have energetic, experienced, and strong leadership as we move into the next phase of transforming Williams Racing.“
Toto Wolff, Team Principal, Mercedes, added:
“Having worked with him since I first joined the team in 2013, I know how diligent, capable and talented he is and have taken great satisfaction from watching James develop and grow over the past decade. While we are naturally sad to be saying goodbye, 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.“
By joining Williams as their team boss, Vowles will become Williams’ third-ever Team Principal in their 46-year history, following Sir Frank Williams and Jost Capito.
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