Vowles: Journey towards Team Principal in my head for years

Williams announced on Friday that former Mercedes Chief Strategist James Vowles will become principal of their Formula 1 team replacing former boss Jost Capito.

Vowles spoke to the media about his new job and the path towards reaching this milestone in his career, insisting he is confident of his ability to do the job, and that he has been targeting such a position for some time now.

Quoted by F1's official website, Vowles said: "Fortunately, I’m not seeing it is a leap, it is a jump, but I don’t think it’s a massive leap.

"I think this journey towards Team Principal has been one that has been in my head for many years, and Toto and Mercedes have been incredibly kind in order to provide me a pathway to get there.

"As Toto described a number of responsibilities fell my way in the last few years," he explained, as Toto Wolff pointed out in the same media session that he would have stepped down from his Mercedes role, for Vowles to advance any further.

The new Williams boss went on: "However, it’s the same if I asked any of you to change what you’re doing and move on to a different organisation, even perhaps if you’re doing the same job.

"You have to reform your relationships, you have to build the team around you that you want, that you are with, and you have to reform those social groups that are now disappearing. Disappearing after 20 years.

"The best analogy I can use so far is almost like a divorce. It’s hard. That’s a lot of people that are incredibly close to me, that I’ve grown up with," he admitted.

"But I’m going into an arena that has people that are just as motivated, just as committed, and just as hungry for success," Vowles went on. "It’s a different starting point but the end goal is going to be hopefully no different. To answer your question, is it difficult? I don’t see it that way.

Vowles admitted that the reality of his move is yet to set in, saying: "Perhaps I’m getting carried away with the excitement and the want and will to start this, and get into this, but it’s not trepidation.

"I’m waking up every morning, I don’t mind saying, at five AM and just scribbling down thoughts, notes, directions. That is the level of motivation that is just going to keep me going for years and years. I’m confident of it," the 43-year-old maintained.