Hamilton and Rosberg, who were once friends during their early racing careers, became adversaries while they were both part of the Mercedes team from 2013 to 2016.
Their relationship completely deteriorated in 2016, particularly after they collided with each other on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, resulting in Max Verstappen winning the race for Red Bull in his debut.
Rosberg ultimately won the F1 Title that year, but shocked everyone by announcing his retirement just days after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Vowles, a member of the Mercedes management team, reflected on the challenges they faced in dealing with two extremely competitive drivers.
He shared in an interview: “The key is to be open and honest with the drivers, plain and simple. We often avoid confronting the real issues and instead beat around the bush. They are, without a doubt, the best in the world at what they do, so having a direct conversation can be difficult.”
“I am the same person publicly, here, and off camera – open, honest, and transparent. That’s where it all begins. We have to have that open, honest conversation, even when their actions are detrimental to the team and themselves,” he added.
At the beginning of the F1 Turbo-hybrid era, Mercedes dominated the new regulations in terms of both power unit and chassis. It was clear that either Hamilton or Rosberg would win the Title, while their competitors struggled to catch up.
Vowles recalled: “In 2014, the biggest challenge we faced with the drivers was that both Nico and Lewis knew, even before the first race, that it would be one of them winning the championship. It took some time, but my role was to create a document that established clear guidelines on how they would work and compete with each other. Initially, it was called ‘rules of engagement’ but was later renamed to a less military term, racing intent.”
He went on to explain the philosophy behind the document, stating: “Regardless of the name, it outlined specific boundaries on how we should behave and perform. The first page emphasized the importance of being a sportsman. To put it simply, you can win a world championship, but if you do so in an unfair and unsportsmanlike manner, you will carry regret for the rest of your life. Yes, you may have the championship title, but it will be tarnished, tainted, and not truly deserved.”
“We, during that period, strive to achieve success through superior performance, rather than relying on alternative means. Our goal is to outperform all others, whether it be our drivers, engineers, or designers.
“We emphasize to our team members the importance of choosing the path that leads to becoming the greatest sportsman in the world, creating a lasting legacy for years to come. We discourage actions that may harm or hinder teammates, even if it results in a race victory. We ask, which path do you want to take?
“The answer is clear to any true sportsman – they want to be remembered as a dominant force that worked together harmoniously. We want the fastest driver over the course of 20 races, within the rules, to emerge victorious.
“We do not prioritize the fastest driver on any given weekend or someone who gains an advantage through questionable means. We construct the competition to ensure equal opportunities for all. Our drivers embraced this philosophy, creating a positive environment,” he explained.
Despite Mercedes’ careful management of their drivers, there were still moments of tension, most notably during the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Vowles recalled, “This does not mean that we did not face challenges along the way. The incident in Barcelona in 2016 remains vivid in my memory. Two exceptional athletes were confined within their roles and became frustrated.
“However, in such instances, we do not retreat. Instead, we reaffirm our principles and stand firm,” concluded the Williams boss.
After progressing through the ranks at Mercedes, with his final role being Motorsport Strategy Director, Vowles took on the position of Williams Team Principal at the beginning of the 2023 F1 season. He now faces a new challenge of rebuilding a once-great team from the ground up, rather than managing conflicting drivers.