F1 News: Williams Chief Surprised By Extent Of Determination To Meet Crucial Deadline - "Doesn’t Exist In My Old Place"

James Vowles reveals the moment he was taken aback by the Williams team's willingness to go the extra mile to bring crucial upgrades to the FW45.

James Vowles, who joined Williams as team principal at the beginning of the year, experienced a striking display of dedication from his team, who were willing to sleep at the factory to complete a crucial upgrade. 

Key Takeaways:

• The team's willingness to sleep at the factory for the success of the FW45 upgrade at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix highlights a level of commitment that Vowles notes was not present to this extent at Mercedes.
• Under James Vowles, Williams has seen a revival, culminating in a P7 finish in the Constructors’ Championship.

James Vowles' transition from Mercedes to Williams has been marked by a series of revelations about the depth of dedication within his new team. At Williams, Vowles was surprised to see the staff's willingness to go to extraordinary lengths, including staying overnight at the factory, to ensure the successful completion of an important upgrade for their FW45 car at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix. 

This level of commitment, as Vowles pointed out in an interview with Motorsportweek.com, was a contrast to what he had experienced at Mercedes. The team's efforts bore fruit as Alex Albon achieved a P7 finish at the Grand Prix in Montreal, his joint-best result of the season. Vowles explained:

“I went down and I did a talk to some of the key people involved in production and build.

“The talk was, ‘We’ll make this work, I’ll be here with you. Let’s get this done, but it’s incredibly hard.’

“What I didn’t realise is they took that as we’re going to have to sleep in the factory! They were prepared to do that, completely comfortable with giving up their home life to be in the factory 24/7.

“That doesn’t exist, certainly in my old place, to that level. That’s Williams all over, and the passion and the racing are very much embedded in the bottom of it.”