Wolff: I would've needed to move aside for Vowles to move up

The former Chief Strategist for the eight-time Formula 1 Constructors' Champions was announced to be joining Williams as team boss for 2023 on Friday.

Wolff spoke of Vowles after the announcement that he would be leaving the team, creditingthe work he has done at Mercedes, revealing succession plans after the Briton's exit.

"He’s been having a massive contribution, not only to what’s happening during the races, but also in terms of the global strategy of the team, and Mercedes Motorsport in general," Wolff said.

"In the last year, we decided that he would hand over the reigns to a new team of strategists and, since July, James has been moving off the pit wall, and not actively interfering anymore in the decision-making on the race weekends. [He’s been] with me, basically overlooking the situation, like I have done for many years," he explained.

"That next step is something that James deserves," Wolff claimed. "Within our organisation, for him to move up, I would have needed to move aside, and I feel still that there is something left in me, and that I can add a contribution, or that I can contribute."

The Austrian believes Vowles' move to Williams is a win-win for all stakeholders; he said: "Having a sparring partner at Williams, someone that’s very logical, rational, while very experienced in F1, is of overall benefit, I think, for the Williams organisation, for Mercedes, but for F1 generally.

"James has been around for a long time, he’s seen it all – the intelligent things and the less intelligent things. I have no doubt that Williams choosing James is a fantastic move for them," he added.

The Mercedes boss is confident that his team is well prepared to deal with the departure of Vowles, revealing they have foreseen such a move and took steps to deal with it.

"There is no gap [left] behind. Since many years, we have discussed the succession planning in this area. We have been very reliant on James’ ability. With this we put an emphasis a few years ago on how that would continue if he would decide to do something else, within Mercedes or outside," Wolff said.

"James was very good at setting that up. We have an extremely talented team of strategists. We have nine people, some very senior that are not always on the frontline, and some that have grown within the organisation.

"They have flown the aeroplane now alone in the last six months, and before that already very much just under James’ supervision, so I feel very comfortable in the structure going forward, and not that suddenly a big weakness has been created," Wolff maintained.