Williams Racing has secured its Team Principal, James Vowles, on a new long-term agreement.
Vowles, 45, joined the Grove-based squad in 2023 after a successful tenure as head of race strategy at Mercedes, contributing to numerous championship victories. Since his arrival, Williams reports that he has orchestrated a comprehensive `transformation` of the team.
The team is currently enjoying a strong season, ranking fifth in the 2024 Constructors` Championship with 55 points accumulated over the first 10 races. This points tally already surpasses their best season total since 2017.
I am delighted to sign a new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing, which has felt like home from the moment I first arrived. This iconic team has already provided me with some amazing memories. We share a collective ambition to build upon our rich legacy and ultimately compete for World Championships once more. Over the past two years, our primary focus has been on strengthening the fundamental structure of the team. We now have a solid platform from which to pursue success in the future.
Vowles played a key role in securing the signing of Carlos Sainz. Williams successfully competed with other midfield teams to sign the Spaniard after his departure from Ferrari. Sainz, a four-time race winner, will form a formidable pairing with Alex Albon.
Matthew Savage, Chairman of Williams and its owners Dorilton Capital, expressed his excitement that Vowles has `committed his future to completing the mission that we are on together`.
He has infused the effort to return Williams to the top of the podium with experience, energy, and strategic leadership. While we haven`t reached our ultimate goal yet, the momentum we are building at Grove is palpable, and we are enthusiastic about the prospects that lie ahead.
Can Williams Compete at the Front in F1`s New Era?
The storied Williams team, with a rich history including 16 world titles (the last in 1997) and their most recent race win in 2012, had found itself at the back of the grid before Vowles took the helm. However, they saw an immediate improvement, finishing seventh in the constructors` standings during his inaugural year.
While they finished ninth in 2024 after restructuring their operations at the Grove base the previous winter, the team has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround this season. They have scored points in eight out of ten races, achieving a total that exceeds the combined points from the previous three seasons.
The strong performance this season (2025) is particularly noteworthy as the team has openly stated its primary focus is already on developing the car for the drastically different chassis and engine regulations arriving in 2026.
Williams will continue their partnership with Mercedes for power units into the new F1 regulatory era, with the German manufacturer widely expected to be a frontrunner in engine technology.
