At the conclusion of the 2024 Formula One season, Lewis Hamilton departs Mercedes for Ferrari; however, Williams team principal and former employee James Vowles believes the Silver Arrows can make a comeback.
Mercedes will suffer with the loss of Lewis Hamilton, but a former crucial Toto Wolff ally believes his old team will grow “stronger” in the process.
James Vowles, the team principal at Williams, is about to start his second season. However, he was a crucial component of Mercedes’s machine as strategy chief prior to joining the sport’s sleeping giants, contributing significantly behind the scenes to many of Hamilton’s greatest moments throughout the years.
He was taken aback, along with everyone else, by the seven-time world champion’s announcement that he will be joining Ferrari at the end of 2024. Vowles, though, is not surprised by Hamilton’s desire to compete in the Scuderia’s renowned red.
I was surprised by the timing of his desire to drive a Ferrari at some point in his career. No,” he informed the press. Because it’s a force of nature, I believe that the majority of world champions have either been there or have a desire to be there.
“That cannot be disregarded; it remains the most successful team in Formula 1; Williams is the second-most successful team in the sport. Every human being on the planet agrees that moving from a place of comfort to one of discomfort tests their mettle and is the hardest thing they have to do.
“And that’s Lewis all over. So the fact he’s doing it, I actually think it’s good for the sport. It’ll be good for Lewis, because he’ll learn from it and he’ll challenge himself.”
The difficult task of replacing his team’s greatest driver to date falls to team principal Wolff. The Austrian intends to make the most of his remaining time before committing to a choice because it won’t be simple. Vowles has supported his former group to take advantage of the circumstances.
“I think you’re going to see that Mercedes will be absolutely fine on where they get to on drivers and they will come back stronger as a result,” he said. “It’s not good for Mercedes in the short term, though. Thus, in the end, everything works out well.”
However, he cautioned against interfering with his own star driver, Alex Albon, who is currently leading the race for Hamilton’s seat. “Alex is signed with Williams through the end of 2025,” Vowles continued. I’ve signed that. I haven’t made a big deal out of it because I don’t think I should.
Accordingly, any reports you’re seeing—and one in particular—about that person are, at most, conjectural. At Williams, it is our responsibility to foster an environment worthy of an individual with Alex’s caliber. As easy as that. That is what I have always said, and I continue to say.”
