Bad news for Mercedes and Hamilton?  

At first glance, Mercedes ꦏlosing their head of strategy less than two months before the start of the new season will be seen as a blow. 🌸;

Vowles ဣhas been a major part of Mercedes over the past decade and played an integral role in much of the team’s recent F1 success. He called the shots from the pitwall and acted as one of the few key senior members of staff working under team principal Toto Wolff to help run Mercedes. 

"James has been a highly valued member of our team in his role a🅷s motorsport strategy director, playing an integral part in our success in rec♉ent years,” Wolff said. 

"Having w🃏orked with him since I first joined the team in 2013, I know how dili🐠gent, capable and talented he is, and have taken great satisfaction from watching James develop and grow over the past decade.” 

The move ultimately came with Mercedes’ blessing, suggeไsting the team ♎were already preparing for such an eventuality. 

“Since stepping back from the pit wall mid-season last year, he has continued to buil🏅d the capability of our strategy team at Brackley, and we have a fantastic group of talented strategists who will continue their superb work in the years to come,” Wolff added. 

"While we are natur꧂ally sad to be saying goodbye to such a capable member of the team, I have no doubts whatsoever that he has all the necessary skills to become a fantastic tea🅘m principal in F1.”

Volwes played a hand in some of Mercedes’ standout victories of the past few yearsꦦ, with brilliant strategy calls in Hungaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚry 2019 and Spain 2021 paving the way for memorable Hamilton wins. 

However, Mercedes’ strategic department has also faced their fair share of criticism, particularly since Mercedes’ car has been less dominant. 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Questionable strategic choices were made iꦐn Austria 2018 and in the Netherlands, United States and Mexico City last season, while Mercedes arguably threw away a certain victory at the 2021 Hungari⛄an Grand Prix. 

It marks another high-profile departure - following the exit of engine guru Andy Cowell, and stepping back from duties of former technical director James Allison - and a slow break up of the once dꦅominant Mercedes team. 

What will Vowles bring to Williams? 

At 43, Vowles will become the youngesᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚt team principaꦚl in F1. 

While it will mark his first senior management job, he brings a wealth of experience draw﷽n up from his 21-year career working in engineering and race strategy roles. 

Vowles also has race-winn🔥ing and championship-winning know-how from his time at Brawn and Mercedes, something Wi🐼lliams have long been lacking.

Vowles’s hiring reflects the transformation of Williams following Dorilton Capital’s takeover in late 2020, as the team looks to move back towards the front of the grid in the coming years after finishing bottom of the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 constructors’ standings in four of the last five seasons.

It also hints at a change of management structure, with Vowles simply acting as team principal rather than taking on the joint team principal/CEO responsibilities carried out by his predecessor Jost Capito, who 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:stepped down at the end of 2022. 

“James is one of the most highly respected talents in Formula 1 and will bring performance,” said Dorilton chairman Matthew Savage.&nb🧔sp;

"H﷽e has b🍷een a key part of some of the most impressive feats in the sport over the past 15 years.

"W♏e believe that the appointment of James reinforces our dedication to ensuring we have energetic, experienced and strong leadership as we move into the next phase of transforming Williams Racing."

Intriguingly, the move also maintains the strong relationship that exists between Williams and engine supplier Mercedes, with the links extending to Wolff and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell, who made his🀅 F1 debut with Williams 𝓰and drove for the team for three seasons prior to joining Mercedes.