In February it will be exactly one year since James Vowles took over his duties as head of Williams and started the necessary reforms in the team, which for years occupied the last or one of the last places in the constructors’ championship.
In fact, this work has only just begun, but the first results have already been achieved – in 2023, Williams climbed to 7th place in the team rankings, but we have already talked about the obstacles that Vowles and his subordinates have to overcome.
First of all, we talk about the fact that the infrastructure of the Williams Grove base and the equipment available to the team are largely outdated, and this is of course one of the main limiting factors. According to Vowles, the modernization will require around $150 million, which will need to be invested over the next few years, and he hopes that Formula 1’s financial regulations will be adjusted, as without this it is simply impossible to overtake the leaders.
“I wouldn’t be leading this team if I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he told Australia’s KTM Summer Grill podcast. – I left such a great company like Mercedes, where I felt comfortable, where I was surrounded by exceptionally talented colleagues who had won many championships.
And yet I left there to go to Williams. I did this because I believe we have a clear vision on how to move forward. Williams is one of the first Formula 1 teams I started supporting. It has a rich historical heritage that most teams can only dream of. I still get goosebumps when I look at our old cars that once won championships, and all this equipment still works.
But the changes that need to be achieved cannot happen overnight. This is what I try to explain to everyone. Some equipment still needs to be purchased and we have not yet purchased the largest and most cumbersome. It’s not like you spend millions of dollars on equipment and then install it right away.
Before it is installed and operational, 12, 24 and sometimes all 36 months pass. Therefore, I can confirm that I see light at the end of the tunnel, I see the path along which we will gradually become a successful team again, but this journey will be long.
At the same time, I hope that we will now improve every year, stretching our shoulders more and more, realizing that we are on the right track.”
The presentation of the new Williams car is scheduled for February 5 and will take place in New York at the Puma flagship store.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
