Just the third Team Principal in Williams Racing's 47-year history, James Vowles is leading the transformation of the team in pursuit of future Championship success.
He joined Williams in 2023 from Mercedes, the latest step in a 23-year Formula 1 career in which James has been instrumental in securing nine F1 Constructors’ Championships (with Brawn GP and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team), eight Drivers’ Championships, and has overseen over 120 race victories for the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button and Valtteri Bottas.
James spent 12 years at the Mercedes F1 team, the last four as Motorsport Strategy Director. Before that he fulfilled key engineering and strategy roles at Mercedes and, before joining the German marque, worked at its predecessor teams Brawn GP, Honda Racing and British American Racing.
He played a crucial role at Brawn, overseeing the race strategy that saw Jenson Button secure the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship Driver’s title and the team take the Constructors’ Championship. He stayed at the team’s Brackley base as it transitioned into Mercedes from the 2010 season playing an integral role in the team’s many successes. Born in the UK, Vowles attended the International School of Geneva, graduating in 1997. He went on to the University of East Anglia, obtaining a degree in computer science with mathematics in 2000, followed by a master's degree in Motorsport Engineering and Management from Cranfield University in 2001, receiving the Prodrive Award of Excellence.
James started his role as Team Principal at Williams Racing in January 2023 and helped lead the team to 7th place in the 2023 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
Career Highlights
2023: Team Principal, Williams Racing
2018-2022: Motorsport Strategy Director, Mercedes F1 Team
2010-2018: Chief Strategist, Mercedes F1 Team
2009: Chief Strategist, Brawn GP
2006-2008: Race Strategist / Test Engineer, Honda Racing