Button: Everyone is confident that Williams will succeed

Jenson Button started his career in Formula 1 with Williams, it was in 2000, and a few years ago he returned to this team, but already as an advisor. Following the Miami Grand Prix, the former racer spoke of the difficulties associated with the season’s busy schedule, as well as the hopes associated with the appointment of James Vowles as head of Williams Racing.

Jenson Button: “If I were a racer now I could say this is very hard work because you have to constantly change time zones and travel such long distances by plane, so racing life is full of stress. But I wouldn’t tell the whole truth because this is the best job in the world.

Believe me, when I said goodbye to Formula 1, I thought: “Now I can relax, and it will be great.” However, my life schedule has become even more intense, and especially since I now have children!

Seriously, the point isn’t just that the riders have to travel constantly, but that you always have to be at the peak of your form. This is very difficult when changing time zones. And while the riders know how to adapt to this, the long flight from Baku to Miami was difficult, as there were only a few days to adjust to US time.

But the riders are assisted by their physiotherapists and nutritionists, they make a daily routine, advise when it is better to go to bed, when to eat, etc. At the same time, riders continue to train, albeit less intensively. But as soon as they get off the plane steps, they almost immediately put on their running shoes and go for a run to warm up after a long flight.”

Button also spoke a few words about James Vowles, the new head of Williams Racing, whose arrival everyone has high hopes for: “I have known James for many years. When I won the championship in 2009, which was a long time ago, he was our quarterback. In fact, I started working with him in 2003 when the team was called BAR Honda, and only then it became Honda, then it was renamed Brawn, after which it became a factory Mercedes team.

In general, James has been in Formula 1 for a long time, he has extensive experience, and not only in terms of strategy, but also understands technical issues, and he has also worked with Toto Wolff for a long time. I am very happy that James Williams was leading Racing. He is a great guy, a real hard worker, and he is distinguished by confidence in himself and his abilities, and for a team leader this is a mandatory quality.

He has been through a lot, he knows both the days of victories and the days of failures. He knows how to win races, because he has been with Mercedes for a long time, and this is a great team, and he understands what needs to change at Williams, how to rebuild it.

I also like the way he holds post-race meetings where he analyzes the weekend’s results – he has his own approach, not the same as other teams’ leaders. I’m sure it’s good for the whole team if he shares his thoughts, but listening to him is also good for the Williams fans, it helps to understand what happened.

I think in a few years we will see changes in the balance of power in Formula 1. I think Williams will close the gap with the leaders. I won’t talk about the possible timing of when this could happen, but in the next two years we will see the progress of the team and many positive changes. Williams has a normal budget, there is insight into the problems and work is now being done to restore order in those areas where it is needed.

First of all, we are talking about aerodynamics, about using a wind tunnel. I think positive changes are already visible here, but much more needs to be done in the coming years. At the same time, it is very important that the team has the right atmosphere, that the work brings people joy and I think now everyone believes that Williams will succeed.