Claire Williams, the former leader of the family’s self-titled Formula 1 squad, has praised Dorilton’s recruitment of James Vowles as a significant achievement. Williams relinquished her role as Team Principal after her family sold the team to American investment firm Dorilton Capital for a staggering $179.5 million in August 2020. Her final years in charge were plagued by financial difficulties, a consequence of the pre-Liberty Media era compounded by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following Williams’ departure, Simon Roberts briefly assumed the position before being succeeded by Jost Capito, who eventually made way for Vowles at the conclusion of the 2022 season. In an interview with Blackbook Motorsport, Williams expressed her satisfaction with Vowles’ appointment, stating, “I am delighted that someone of James’ caliber is leading the team. Not many possess the necessary expertise to manage a team, let alone revive one that was in dire straits – and I can say that because I was in charge! The new owners, Dorilton, made an impressive move by successfully luring him away from Mercedes. Despite no longer being in our possession, I still feel a strong attachment to Williams and take great interest in who is at the helm and representing it.”
Vowles joined the Williams team after a period at Mercedes, where he achieved the role of Strategy Director.
In his first season leading the former grand prix giants, Vowles steered Williams to their highest position in the Constructors’ standings since 2017. They finished the 2023 season in seventh place, earning a total of 28 points.
However, the start of the 2024 season has been less than ideal for Williams, as they have failed to score any points in the first three races.
Their troubles were further exacerbated in Australia when Alex Albon crashed a chassis during practice. With no spare chassis available, Vowles and the team made the decision to withdraw Logan Sargeant from the rest of the grand prix, allowing Albon, who has more experience, a better chance at scoring points.
Despite the challenges faced in 2024, Vowles appears to be the first Team Principal of the Dorilton era who has the potential to lead Williams in a positive direction for the long term.
Four years after leaving her position as team boss, Williams reflects on her time away from Formula One with mixed emotions.
“Being involved in Formula One for 45 years is a significant amount of time. It shapes your life, defines your character, and influences who you are,” she expressed.
“Williams was my entire existence, so being away from the sport for four years still feels surreal and somewhat sad, to be honest.
“I miss Formula One. It’s an incredible world to be a part of, and it completely consumes you, especially when you’re running a team.
“Leaving and finding meaning and purpose elsewhere is extremely challenging, but I now have the opportunity to be a mother to my young son, something I missed out on during his early years because of my commitments to Williams.
“I also get to be a wife and we’ve recently moved into a new house. I do some occasional work here and there, and overall, it’s a very fulfilling way to live.”