Despite Mercedes Gains, Williams Shun “B-Team” Idea

Williams F1 team recently appointed Mercedes‘ former chief strategist James Vowles as their team principal for the next F1 season. After replacing the outgoing manager Jost Capito, Vowles expects to be impactful in the team right from the word go. However, the Mercedes man and Toto Wolff‘s close confidant assured that his new team will not have any influence from his old team.

Mercedes and Williams have long-standing relationships as the two teams have come to each other’s aid in recent times. Williams till now have sent a couple of drivers to Mercedes and have been loyal engine customers to them all this while. Hence, it would be safe to say that their tie is strong. However, Vowles, who is from Mercedes background, clarified that his work “has to be independent of Mercedes” and Williams will be free from any Mercedes influence.

As per formula1.com, James Vowles shared, “There is no mini-Mercedes or B-team or any of that notion. This is about me standing on my own two legs and measuring success with an organization around me.” On top of this, even Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has rubbished the Mini-Mercedes rumors.

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Vowles also emphasized how his loyalty would be to the British team once he puts on the Williams t-shirt. Moreover, the renowned Silver Arrows executive also added that Williams’ success should be the main area to focus for him from the day he joins.

James Vowles prepared well for the Williams switch

As James Vowles took up the role of the team boss at Williams, few doubted his caliber to be in charge of an entire team. However, the man from Britain himself isn’t daunted by the challenge he took up for the next F1 season.

Vowles informed F1 that he took up more responsibilities apart from just being a strategist at the Brackley-based team to prepare himself for such a role. As his preparation finally paid off, Vowles didn’t see this as a major leap.

“Fortunately, I’m not seeing it… it is a leap, it is a jump, but I don’t think it’s a massive leap. I think this journey towards Team Principal has been one that has been in my head for many years, and Toto and Mercedes have been incredibly kind in order to provide me a pathway to get there,” said James Vowles to F1.

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Williams finished their 2022 F1 season in P10. With just eight points in their bag, the Woking-based outfit could hardly manage to compete against the likes of Haas or Alfa Romeo. With Vowles in their ranks, it’ll be interesting to see how they manage to improve themselves in 2023.