Claire Williams, former Team Principal of the family’s eponymous Formula 1 outfit, has called Dorilton’s hiring of James Vowles to take the helm starting last year “a brilliant coup”.
Williams stepped down as Team Principal when her family sold the Grove-based outfit to U.S. investment firm Dorilton Capital for $179.5 million in August 2020.
Her final years at the helm of the team were embroiled in financial turmoil, a kickback from the pre-Liberty Media days which were hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
F1’s last female Team Principal was succeeded by Simon Roberts who in turn was replaced by Jost Capito before Vowles took the reigns after the German stepped down after the 2022 season.
“I’m really pleased that someone like James is running that team,” Williams told Blackbook Motorsport.
“Not many people have the experience that you need to run a team, let alone bring a team up that was in pretty bad shape – if I can say that because I was running it!
“The new owners, Dorilton, staged a brilliant coup when they managed to bring him across from Mercedes.
“I’m very territorial over Williams and who’s running it and who’s representing it, even though it’s not ours anymore.”
Vowles joined Williams after a stint at Mercedes that culminated in him attaining the position of Strategy Director.
During his first season in charge of the former GP giants, Vowles guided Williams to its best Constructors’ standing since 2017, concluding the 2023 campaign in seventh position with a tally of 28 points.
Things have got off to a less-than-ideal start in 2024 for Williams with no points scored in the first three races.
The squad’s issues were compounded in Australia after Alex Albon wrote off a chassis in opening practice and with no spare available, Vowles and the team elected to pull Logan Sargeant from the rest of the GP to allow for a better run at points in Albon’s more-experienced hands.
2024 teething troubles aside, Vowles looks like the first Team Principal of the Dorilton era to have the capability to lead Williams in a long-term positive direction.
Four years on from her departure, former team boss Williams has mixed feelings about being away from F1.
“45 years in Formula One is a really long time and it shapes your life, defines your character and who you are,” she said.
“I lived and breathed Williams my whole existence, so four years out of the sport still feels quite surreal, if I’m honest, and sad.
“I miss it. I miss Formula One. It’s an incredible world to be a part of, and it is all-consuming, particularly when you run a team.
“It is very difficult to leave and find meaning and purpose elsewhere, but I have a young son whose formative years I missed out on because I was busy running Williams.
“I get to be his mum, I get to be a wife. We’ve done a house move, I do some work here and there – and that’s a very nice way to live.”
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