EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes suffer a huge blow ahead of the new F1 season, as chief strategist James Vowles leaves Lewis Hamilton and Co to become team principal of Williams
- Mercedes have been dealt a serious blow ahead of the upcoming F1 campaign
- Chief strategist James Vowles has left to become team principal of Williams
- The 43-year-old has been an ever-present during Mercedes’ years of dominance
- Vowles will take up the position vacated by Jost Capito, who left last month
Williams have appointed Lewis Hamilton’s head of strategy James Vowles as their new team principal.
The 43-year-old English engineer replaces Jost Capito, who left the Grove-based team last month after two years in charge, having finished bottom of the constructors’ table last year.
Vowles’ departure from Mercedes represents something of a blow to their immediate functioning but also strengthens the position of his old boss Toto Wolff in the power-play that is always at the heart of Formula One.
Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles has departed to become team principal of Williams
Williams, who are supplied with Mercedes engines, are being described by some in the paddock as the Mercedes B team, a notion that was reinforced by the fact Mercedes hosted the Zoom call yesterday in which Vowles’ move was relayed to the media.
Both Wolff and Vowles, who takes up his new responsibilities on February 20, three days before pre-season testing begins in Bahrain, insisted they will act independently of the other.
They each pointed out that Mercedes are perfectly set-up to absorb the loss, with Vowles having established a nine-man team devoted to strategy – an area in which, actually, they have not always been as adept as rivals Red Bull.
Vowles broke the news of his departure to Hamilton over the phone on Thursday night. ‘”That’s amazing for James,”‘ Wolff reported of the star driver’s reaction.
Vowles added: ‘Yes, those were the first words that came out of his mouth. He was not insulting me or telling me that he is disappointed. Quite the opposite. In fact, everyone at Mercedes has been incredibly happy for me.’
His departure is a serious blow for Lewis Hamilton (pictured, left) and his Mercedes team
Mercedes were looking to claim back the ground they lost to Red Bull and Max Verstappen
