Vowles is not allowed to poach Mercedes employees

In February 2023, former Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles took over the Williams team. The British specialist said the terms of the agreement he signed with Mercedes before his departure prohibited him from luring other employees from his former team to Williams.

“There is indeed such an agreement, but this is not an exceptional case between me and Mercedes,” confirmed James Vowles. “Whoever leaves the team cannot just take colleagues with him. In my case I know a few very smart people from other organizations and I am in constant contact with them.”

James Vowles said Williams had been severely underfunded in recent years, which prevented the team from planning development: “If you walk through the base, you understand that the team had no investments. And when this happens, you lose the understanding of what is good and what is bad.

The team spent several years in survival mode. In such circumstances, you do not worry about what will happen in 12, 18 or 24 months. All you think about is getting through the day and making it to tomorrow.

For example, we did not have the ERP software we needed to keep track of the stock of various parts. We are in talks with Formula 1 and other teams about budget restrictions. If we want meritocracy, then the rest should allow us to spend more money to catch up with other teams, at least in terms of basic equipment. Otherwise we have virtually no chance of catching up with the rest.

I prefer not to fight this season so that I can do better next season, and I am even willing to give up 2024 to get more opportunities in 2025. If we focus on current affairs, then we will stay at the current level and I don’t want our team to be seventh, eighth or ninth. Achieving results requires radical and significant decisions – and we make them.”