40% of the teams currently on the F1 Grid are powered by Mercedes. The Mercedes power unit was the most desirable one for the customer teams. However, Toto Wolff’s former Confidant has now labeled the partnership with Mercedes as difficult after parting ways with the Austrian. Who is the former confidant and what are the reasons behind the “difficult” label? 

James Vowles was one of the most crucial people responsible for Mercedes‘ success during the Turbo Hybrid era. Vowles was responsible for overseeing the race strategy and analyzing the performance. The Briton is well known for his radio calls to the drivers. However, earlier this year, James Vowles announced that he will be leaving the position of Motorsport Strategy Director to join Williams as their Team Principal. However, now that Toto Wolff’s former confidant doesn’t work at Mercedes anymore, Vowles reveals the reason why a partnership is difficult with his former team.

Williams is a Mercedes customer team. James Vowles explained that having a close relationship with the engine manufacturer helps with the development of the rear end. The manufacturer can be given the specifications to help suit the car better and achieve the aerodynamic goals. However, being a customer team to Mercedes, it is difficult to expect the same. 

According to Motorsport-Total.com, James Vowles said “The more closely connected to the engine manufacturer, the more you can design the layout of the rear as you need it. The compromise between cooling and aerodynamic performance can therefore be defined from a single source. And you know all the goals. In a partnership – we are a customer of Mercedes – this is of course much more difficult.” [Translated Via Google]

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What James Vowles emphasized regarding the rear end can be seen with other customers’ teams too. Let’s take the example of Aston Martin who are also limited around the rear end because of the Mercedes components brought by them. However, the Silverstone-based team has signed a new deal to resolve the issue.

Aston Martin’s partnership with Honda is the missing piece of the championship puzzle

Aston Martin announced that they will be partnering with Honda starting in 2026. The green team is currently a Mercedes customer team and gets most of its rear-end components including the Power Unit, Gearbox, and rear suspension from the works team. Nevertheless, this limits the scope of the development around the rear end as we’ve seen this season. However, Honda might just be the missing piece as the team can independently develop and ask Honda to cater to their requirements 

According to Firstsportz.com, Lawrence Stoll said “The partnership with Honda is the final piece in the jigsaw to establish Aston Martin as a top team, capable of winning world titles. Combined with our new campus, we are giving the team all the tools it needs to win.”

Do you think Williams will be looking for a different engine partner or thinking about going independent and starting their own Powertrain department like Red Bull?

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