Team principals are important figures in a team’s life, and they have different backgrounds in racing. Some, like Christian Horner and Toto Wolff, competed in different series before becoming team principals, while others have a background in engineering. Williams’ James Vowles talked about his adventures in racing on track, and what he could learn from these experiences.
James Vowles competed in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series for the Garage 59 team, when he was working for Mercedes as motorsport strategy director. For the 2023 season, he joined Williams to become team principal there. “You feel alone in the car, really alone. Your visual of the world is what’s happening 200 metres in front of you and 200 metres behind you, if you’re lucky. So, you’re reliant on a voice, an engineer, to give you insight into the world at all times,” he explained what he learned on track to F1.com.
James Vowles himself is ready to challenge his rivals off the track also on the track. “I am all for it! I think with the accolades that Toto has behind him, that Christian has behind him, that Zak has behind him… You’d have great fun. I think I’d have a good run of it. What’s going to happen, though, is it’s going to be carnage. You realise that none of those cars will come back with four wheels.”
According to the Briton, he has previously driven together with Toto Wolff before at Mercedes, and the pair also received some feedback from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. “Toto and myself have had a few opportunities on the track together, and it’s been so much fun. On one occasion in Austin, Lewis was there as well, and I can’t release the footage to you, but all you hear is him laughing inside the car,” Vowles shared.
