“More importantly, what I really enjoyed it shows you how incredible these drivers were back in the day, because [driving it at the limit] is putting your life on the line. There’s no protection if you get it wrong, it’s gonna hurt – which makes you more respectful.”
While a proliferation of automotive stands pushing their wares has sprung up in recent years at FoS, the plethora of historic machinery on show is still its bread and butter, with teams like Williams central to this.
“The FW08 has a huge amount of history with Keke Rosberg winning,” Vowkles acknowledges. “It’s the representation of Williams, representation of our success, what we’re about, what our legacy is.
“Williams has won nine constructors’ championships. I’d won many across the road [nods towards the Mercedes paddock, which has eight], and yet Williams has more – that should tell you all need to know.”
All this illustrates though, is how things haven’t been so rosy in recent years. The job on Vowles’ hands with the modern machinery was illustrated by how stunned he was by what he found on his arrival at Grove.
Keke Rosberg and the FW08: a Williams peak in 1982
Grand Prix Photo
“The biggest surprise to me was how well the team were doing, given what it was lacking,” he says.
“It was basically miracle work done by a bunch of individuals that are so passionate about Williams. I think we were just basically using up goodwill from people that will give everything, rather than doing things in a more structured way.”
Vowles previous role when he was a key player at Mercedes was as lead strategist, often delivering communications over the pitwall which guided Lewis Hamilton and his team-mates through the race. He says getting the clear messaging through to steer a new direction has been key at Grove.
“I hope I’ve opened people’s eyes” James Vowles
“I hope I’ve opened people’s eyes into: ‘Here’s where we are, here’s where we have to be,” he asserts. “The biggest single change, I hope, is that of honest communication, resetting the benchmark of: ‘This is the journey we’re on, I’m with you for it, I’m here for it. But it’s a way away – we’ve got work to do.'”
Now most of that work is heading towards the new regulations coming in for 2026. Ten years ago, Williams got the jump on the much of the field by dint of the pace-setting Mercedes hybrid engine and a tidy car design.
Vowles admits that’s the plan for the team once again. Still a Mercedes customer, the 2026 regulations will require a comprehensive change as power units go 50% electric – rumour is the Silver Arrows engine facility has got the head start, and Vowles wants to capitalise.
