Vowles expected less complicated debut at Williams

Williams in the points from the first race of the season, it was one of the big odds in Bahrain. Yet, Alexander albon achieved the performance of finishing in 10th place on the Sakhir circuit, synonymous with a first point in the championship. A first for the Grove group (United Kingdom) since 2017! Also a first for James Vowles, the new principal director of the British team. The English engineer, who arrived at Williams this winter to replace Jost Capito, experienced his first Grand Prix as Team Principal. 

The point obtained by Alexander Albon in Bahrain perfectly launches the Vowles era at Williams, who spoke about his first weeks at Grove. “It's pretty much what I expected, maybe it's even a little more complicated, he confided at the end of the Bahraini weekend.Over the past 15 years, the team has experienced enormous difficulties, financial and otherwise, and they have survived it all. But this is only survival compared to other organizations which have had financial means. This is why there are big differences between our current situation and the one we must have in the future. »

Long-term vision for Vowles at Williams

James Vowles must deal with a team in the middle of (re)construction. Moreover, Williams has not yet found a replacement for François-Xavier Demaison for the position of technical director. Since the sale of the team to the American private investment company Dorilton Capital in 2020, the course followed by Williams remains very unclear. The former strategist Mercedes explained that it would take years for some facilities at Grove to reach the level needed to compete with other teams.

“It’s incredibly difficult to get into the top three. They have resources that are beyond your dreams, they have the experience, they have the best people on the grid,” admitted James Vowles, speaking knowledgeably after years at Honda and Mercedes.

To lead Williams to the top of the grid, the British engineer has set himself long-term objectives. “I think a realistic step for this organization is first and foremost to make sure that every year we move forward and don't stay in the same place. This has to be dream number one. Dream number two is to set a reasonable period in the future, and those are years, where we will start to break through for sixth, then fifth, then fourth place [in the championship]. »

ALSO READ >Already in the points, Albon praises Williams' 'incredible progress'