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So the 2024
Formula One season officially got underway for the Williams Racing Team with
a presentation of the teams 2024 livery and sponsors at an event in the New
York City store of one of their new partners Puma.
It was certainly an event that attracted a lot of attention with fans queued
around the block to get to see the new livery. Combined with this event was
an online presentation where we got to hear from various individuals
including Team Principal James Vowles and drivers Alex Albon and Logan
Sargeant.
In the days that have followed we have gained further insights into the team
preparations and expectations for the upcoming 2024 Formula One season.
Speaking at the teams 2024 launch Team Principal James Vowles would comment
on the teams preparations mentioning in particular that most important of
events the first engine startup of the FW46.
James said: "I think we're probably the last team to get it all together and
fire the car up, which happened today. It's a momentous occasion for the
team, and I love being here, don't get me wrong... but I also really miss
the fact that I didn't get to hear the car for the first time."
But this moment for James had to be kept in the perspective of the his
aspirations for the Williams team. For James his new role at Williams has
seen him move into what is a challenging position in terms of returning the
team back to where it has been in its history, that of a championship
winning team.
James explained his view of where he wants to see the team "I didn't care
about last year, and I don't really care about this year. Yeah, I'm
confident we've done a really good job, but what I care about is us fighting
at the front for championships again.
"Everything is about long-term resolution, not short-term, and the result of
that is that we took - and we will continue to take - enormous risks with
this company.
"I'm not going to be withheld because my job is on the line if we're not
doing a good enough job. The only way to get this team back to the front is
break everything.
"I've used the terms internally: "break the cycle". And that's exactly what
we are doing. Even what we've done the last two months, I'm really proud of
what we've achieved... [but] it's not good enough."
As for the FW46 James spoke of this: "We have been working on the new car
since March (2023)." The new FW46 is a real step forward for Williams as the
chassis of was built using new technologies and the aerodynamics will see a
new approach.
Vowles wanted to see the team come up with a design that would help
eliminate the short comings of previous designs. Based on the comments from
Alex it would seem that they are moving in the right direction. Coming from
the work on the simulator Alex said: "The new car feels completely
different. I had to adapt my driving style for it. Because the car is more
predictable."
As for whether people will see the new FW46 as a repeat of another cars
James added: "If we have come up with a solution here and there that is
reminiscent of other cars, it is because our research has shown it to be the
best. In the past, we simply copied things and then tried to understand how
they work."
For James so far the simulation work seems to indicate that they are on the
right path but he added: "There is so much that is new about this car that
we need experience on the race track to verify it."
Vowles also wanted to see his technical team take on the challenge of
building a more driver friendly car. James said: "I told them that they
should dare to do something. If we fail, then I will take the blame. If we
don't take a new path, then we'll stay where this team has been for the last
ten years. We can't be satisfied with seventh or eighth place in the medium
term. That's why we've taken full risks everywhere."
Coming into the 2024 season James' views certainly show his commitment to
achieving his aims for the team. His commitment also was seen in his
assurance that the team will never lose the Williams name as he acknowledges
the legacy that the name has.
Speaking on Williams James said: “I think it’s one of the biggest brands,
certainly in motorsport and certainly in the UK. I also have no desire
whatsoever to change it nor do Dorilton for that matter, because it means a
tremendous amount. Frank and his legacy remain in us. And you’ll see on the
livery now as well, if you look you’ll see his arrow subtly embedded in
there."
Coming off the 2024 launch was the opportunity to hear more from 2024
drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. Alex is coming off a 2023 season that
saw him well and truly establish himself as an in-demand F1 driver. Logan
had a tough 2023 season but will continue with the team in 2024.
James spoke of Alex in the highest terms. He said: "It is our job at
Williams to create an environment that deserves someone of the calibre of
Alex. Simple as that. I've said that from the beginning and I still maintain
that. He is an incredible driver who deserves his place towards the front.
"He did drives last year that I've already commented are no different to
some of the other champions I've worked with. He kept half the field behind
in one race and we put him in difficult positions and he overcame that to
score points."
He added: "[Albon] and I have good chats about where we want to move forward
and we want to have our journey together in this team for a long time. We
have to earn that right. It's not given, by any stretch of imagination, nor
should it be, for that matter.
As for the prospect of Alex leaving the Williams team James explained: "For
the situation with Alex, would I stand in his way? I have the responsibility
of Williams on my shoulder - that's the most important thing to me. It's not
the responsibility towards one individual, in this case Alex. This
responsibility is towards the team so, should any decision go that way, it's
because I'm very clear in my mind that I've made decisions that are correct
for the team's long-term goals."
"Alex is signed in Williams until the end of 2025. That's signed. It's not
something I've been very public about, because I don't feel the need to. So
any reports that you're seeing - and there's one in particular - that
individual is speculating at best."
But how does James keep his major asset with the team. For Alex his career
must come first and if an offer from another team is made it will be
fascinating to see if he would move on from Williams. For James the main
basis of retaining Alex will be by continuing to offer him opportunities
that are such that he will see Williams as a worthwhile place to stay.
Alex spoke of his relationship with Vowles by saying: “James is extremely
involved and he always keeps me up to date with the progress of the team,
the areas we need to work on, the areas that I could help him improve. He’s
very open in that sense – which is, obviously, a very nice thing to have.”
“I just have to be happy with the journey that we’re on and the progress
that we’re making. That’s pretty clear of where I see the team and where I
want the team to be. I’ll be assisting in pushing for that as long as I
can.”
2023 would see James make the announcement of saying that Logan Sargeant
would remain with the team in 2024. Logan had shown some signs of progress
during his difficult rookie season such that James continued to support the
young American.
For Logan his view of James as he goes into 2024 was one of: "He has
definitely put stress on the system and in the end of the day that's how you
grow as a whole and as a team and personally he has been great to work with
the past year and I really feel like I can see the team motivated even more
than ever to keep improving and get back to the front."
For me 2024 will see the first year where James Vowles is well and truly
seeing the Williams team operating under his plans for the future. Where
this will see the team at the end of the 2024 season is a question that will
depend on how all the pieces that James has brought together, including the
arrival of Pat Fry in the Technical head role, allow for a more complete
package. Could the team be producing results that will see it up in the
midfield.
Is a championship position of higher than seventh a realistic goal. For
James he does not think so. He explained that he did not feel that this was
realistic, believing that more work needs to be done. "
He added: "We are not yet good enough to make the next leap within a year."
As for Alex he has somewhat higher expectations: "I would like to get the
team to where Alpine was last year. They were only one position ahead of us
in the team standings, but the points gap was pretty big. If we were to
finish ahead of them, that would be a huge step." |
