Lewis Hamilton phoned James Vowles as Mercedes man left to become Williams boss
Vowles was Hamilton’s chief strategist but has no💦w left Mercedes to take the team principal job at Williams.
Hamilton first h🌄eard the news from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff before speaking to Vowles.
“I told him [last] week that this was going to happen an✱d he is absolutely𓆉 fine,” Wolff said.
“Working with James has always been a great ple🌌asure for him. The clever thinking on a Sunday morning, that was good fun with James always.
“I think his first r🍌esponse was ‘That’s amazing for James’.”
Vowles addedꦉ: “For whꦆat it’s worth, I called him and those were the first words that came out of his mouth.
“Not 🌳insulting me or telling me he’s disapp♛ointed, it was quite the opposite.
“In fact, I’d probably say throughout Mercedes I’ve had the fortune that near enough everyone I’ve😼 spoken to has just been incredibly happy.”
Hamilton posted🦩 on social media about Vowles: “Together we have won over 80 races and 15 titles. This is such a great move and I couldn’t be happier for him.
“We all need to change in order to progress and I’m confident that he’ll push Williams forward to being more competitiv❀e. T🦂here is nobody more deserving of this role.
“Thanks for everything, James. Wishing ꦏyou the best, brother🐽.”
Bad news for Hamilton?
The loss of his𒈔 chief stra🍬tegist is an unexpected plot twist as Hamilton enters 2023.
Mercedes have already confirmed that they will not recruꦉit anybody to replace Vowles, and have a succession plan from within, suggesting the evolution should be smooth.
🔯But will Hamilton feel t꧂he difference in the heat of battle, without Vowles?
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a deca🥂de covering everything from American sports, t🌠o football, to F1.
