James Vowles has signed a brand new long-term contract as he continues on as Crew Principal at Williams, that means that he’ll stay on the head of the squad as they push to return to championship-winning glory.
Vowles joined the group forward of the 2023 season from Mercedes, the place he had acted as Motorsport Technique Director for 4 years. He beforehand held key engineering and technique roles at Mercedes, Brawn GP, Honda and BAR throughout 21 years within the sport.
Since then the Briton – who is simply Williams’ third Crew Principal of their 48-year historical past – has been centered on remodeling the outfit as they appear to make their method again to the entrance of the grid, following on from Dorilton Capital’s buy of the group in 2020.
Up to now in 2025, Williams have loved their strongest begin to a season since 2016, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz recurrently clinching factors to offer the Grove-based squad a present place of fifth within the Groups’ Championship.
Their factors tally of 55 is greater than the full factors scored by the group throughout the earlier three seasons mixed.
“I’m delighted to signal a brand new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing, which has felt like residence from the second I walked by the door,” mentioned Vowles, whose precise size of contract extension hasn’t been revealed.
“This iconic group has already given me some unbelievable reminiscences and we’re all united in our ambition to construct on our legacy and win World Championships once more.
“Over the previous two years we now have centered on fixing the foundations, and now have a platform to go for glory within the years to come back.”
Matthew Savage, Chairman of Williams and Dorilton Capital, added: “We’re thrilled that James has signed a brand new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing and dedicated his future to finishing the mission that we’re on collectively.
“He has introduced expertise, vitality and strategic management to the duty of restoring Williams to the highest step of the rostrum. We aren’t there but however you may sense the momentum we’re constructing at Grove and are enthusiastic about what lies forward.”
Lawrence Barretto, F1 Correspondent & Presenter, says…
Williams homeowners Dorilton Capital put a whole lot of belief in James Vowles once they appointed him as Crew Principal (he had vital expertise as a part of the management group at Mercedes however no group principal expertise) and the information they’ve prolonged his deal proves they imagine he has rewarded that religion.
Since becoming a member of in January 2023, Vowles had maintained that reworking Williams’ fortunes from backmarkers to preventing on the sharp finish is a long-term undertaking – and that there would probably be short-term ache as they rebuild and revitalise each a part of the operation. When he talks about targets, he refers to 2028 and 2029 earlier than he anticipates an enormous step up, so vital are the upgrades he and the homeowners suppose are wanted to rework the group.
Up to now, it’s all going relatively properly. Vowles pulled off a coup by signing Carlos Sainz, heading off competitors from Audi and Alpine – and the impression has been near-instant. Along with Alex Albon, they’ve shaped a formidable line-up who’re working seamlessly collectively and driving the group ahead.
And on observe, after under-promising, the group is over-delivering – they presently sit an outstanding fifth, having been tenth within the season earlier than Vowles took over. And issues are trying encouraging for subsequent 12 months too.
They switched all growth focus to 2026, when sweeping new guidelines are launched, months in the past – and can concurrently profit from extra wind tunnel and CFD (or computational fluid dynamics simulation) operating time than their instant rivals within the first half of this 12 months due to their lowly end within the standings final 12 months.
Vowles’ plan seems to be working and the primary constructing blocks are in place, so it’s no shock that Dorilton have moved to lock him down for the foreseeable future.
