Vowles was headhunted by Williams owners Dorilton from Mercedes at the start of this year to oversee a total rebuild of the struggling squad.
He quickly convinced the American investment company that it would take several years for Williams’ renovation to catch up with its midfield competitors in various aspects of its infrastructure at Grove base.
Williams has achieved notable success in 2023, despite facing challenges. Lead driver Alex Albon has played a significant role in securing impressive results for the team, largely due to the exceptional performance of their efficient FW45 car. This car particularly excels at circuits that require less downforce.
Speaking solely to Motorsport.com, Vowles affirms that he would not compromise the team’s future advancement in favor of its performance in 2023.
Vowles explained that their focus is not on the current year or the upcoming year. Instead, they are interested in establishing structures and systems for the years ’25, ’26, and beyond.
“The reason why I explain that to the whole organisation and to tell everyone publicly is the following: It is so easy because that’s what Formula 1 is, to be caught in the moment and do everything you can to make the moment better.
“If you’re compromising any fraction of what lies ahead, you are making an incorrect decision.”
James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing
Photo by: Williams
Williams has experienced a significant change in philosophy since being acquired by Dorilton in 2020, after enduring a period of underinvestment and struggling to survive in the short term for several years.
Vowles cautioned that the team has excelled in prioritizing the present moment for a long time. However, solely concentrating on the present can only yield temporary success before experiencing setbacks.
Other teams we have previously discussed are also performing well in the midterm. However, achieving exceptional results in the long run allows for a significant leap forward. This leap becomes firmly established and sustains over an extended duration.
Think of it as a form of training to build endurance for running. This type of training will bring you significant benefits. Even if you take a break from running for two weeks, your endurance will remain intact. You may excel at sprinting for a while if you incorporate it into your routine, but if you cease, your progress will diminish rapidly. Our focus is on establishing a sustainable pace for the long run.
That does not mean Williams will give up on 2023, as Albon and rookie team-mate Logan Sargeant are still expected to do well at next month’s Italian Grand Prix at high-speed Monza. The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, on a street circuit lacking high-downforce corners, could also be an opportunity for the team to consolidate its joint seventh place in the constructors’ standings.
Vowles stated that both he and the team will make every effort to maximize the points obtained during race weekends with our current car. This objective remains unchanged.
“What it does preclude though is that if you gave me a chance between putting even a millisecond more on this year’s car, or investing in the future, it’s a very clear decision which way to go.”
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