Vowles commits future to Williams with long-time F1 deal

Williams Formula 1 team principal James Vowles has signed a new long-term deal with the squad.

Vowles joined Williams in 2023 from Mercedes, where he held the role of motorsport strategy director, and had initially spoken about the daunting task he faced in turning the team around. The 45-year-old famously commented that much of the team’s car build was still run off an Excel spreadsheet.

Vowles has since restructured the team’s design operation and secured the signing of race-winner Carlos Sainz to partner Alex Albon in one of the best driver pairings on the grid.

The team currently sits in fifth place in the F1 world constructors’ championship with 55 points – more points than it scored in the previous three seasons combined.

And Vowles has said he continues to drive the team forward in the pursuit of winning its first F1 title since 1997.

Vowles said: “I am delighted to sign a new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing, which has felt like home from the moment I walked through the door. This iconic team has already given me some incredible memories and we are all united in our ambition to build on our legacy and win world championships again.

“Over the past two years, we have focused on fixing the foundations, and now have a platform to go for glory in the years to come.”

Matthew Savage, chairman of Williams Racing and Dorilton Capital, added: “We are thrilled that James has signed a new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing and committed his future to completing the mission that we are on together.

“He has brought experience, energy, and strategic leadership to the task of restoring Williams to the top step of the podium. We aren’t there yet, but you can sense the momentum we are building at Grove and are excited about what lies ahead.”