Hamilton's right-hand man jumps ship to F1 rival

1 year ago 76

One of the astir influential individuals successful Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 reign with Mercedes has jumped vessel to a rival team.

James Vowles, the erstwhile main strategist astatine Mercedes, has been poached by Williams wherever helium volition beryllium its caller squad principal.

Vowles began moving successful Formula 1 with Honda and stayed with the squad erstwhile it was spectacularly sold to Ross Brawn for $1 to go Brawn GP.

The squad won the 2009 title with Jenson Button earlier being bought by Mercedes who Vowles has stayed with up until this year.

Vowles enjoyed a palmy stint astatine Mercedes, winning six drivers' championships with Lewis Hamilton, 1 with Nico Rosbergs, and 8 constructors' championships.

Vowles takes up the presumption astatine Williams which was precocious vacated by Jost Capito.

"I cannot hold to commencement with Williams Racing," said Vowles.

"It's an honour to articulation a squad with specified an incredibly affluent heritage.

"The squad is an icon of our sport, 1 I greatly respect, and I americium precise overmuch looking guardant to the challenge.

"Williams Racing person placed their religion and spot successful me, and I volition bash the aforesaid successful return.

"The squad has tremendous potential, and our travel unneurotic starts successful a substance of weeks."

After Williams laminitis Frank Williams and Capito earlier him, Vowles becomes conscionable the 3rd squad main successful the championship-winning squad's storied history.

Vowles hailed Mercedes, successful peculiar its squad main Toto Wolff, aft his 12-year spell with the Silver Arrows.

"Mercedes person been hugely supportive connected my journey, and we portion connected fantabulous presumption aft implicit 20 years of moving successful Brackley," said Vowles.

"I americium grateful for everything Toto and the squad person provided, and it has been specified a peculiar acquisition to travel unneurotic done nonaccomplishment and success."

Hamilton acknowledged Vowles' departure connected societal media.

"I americium truthful grateful and arrogant to person worked with James for the past 10 years," helium wrote.

"Together we person won implicit 80 races and 15 titles. This is specified a large determination and I couldn't beryllium happier for him.

"We each request alteration successful bid to advancement and I'm assured he'll propulsion Williams guardant to beryllium much competitive."

Williams goes into the 2023 play with 1 caller operator successful American Logan Sargeant, portion Anglo-Thai operator Alexander Albon retains his spot successful the team.

The Formula 1 play gets underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix connected March 5.

Vowles volition commencement moving with Williams connected February 20 conscionable earlier play investigating astatine the Bahrain International Circuit.

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