Williams boss James Vowles has revealed the team is set to have “huge infrastructure changes come online” in 2025 as part of its plan to return to the sharp end in Formula 1.
The Grove-based squad has been undergoing a seismic rebuild since Vowles departed his previous role at Mercedes to begin heading the operation back in 2023.
Vowles has enacted an expansive hiring spree since then, which owner Dorilton Capital is augmenting with mass investment in renovating the team’s outdated premises.
Williams is endeavouring to put down the groundwork that will enable a turnaround in the team’s prospects over the period spanning the next ruleset beginning in 2025.
Speaking as Williams unveiled its 2025 car, the FW47, at Silverstone, Vowles divulged that there will be sizeable developments on that front coming over the next 12 months.
Asked to provide a timeline on when Williams might be able to capture victories again, Vowles said: “The main thing is this: You’re going to see us progress forward.
“But what I’ve always said is we’ve put our focus into ‘26, ‘27 and ‘28. We’re developing elements that come online as a result of that. We have this year huge
infrastructure changes that come online.
“We were 700 people, now we’re over 1,050 today and we’re not finished yet. There’s a lot more in the pipeline. That’s all happening in the background. And what I want to make sure that we’re doing is not taking just the short term, little bit of gain at the cost of long term. We’re here to make sure we’re back to winning championships.
“To do that, it’ll take a little bit more time. But that’s the investment we’re doing. But as I said, watch our pathway. It should be a good one this year.”
Williams F1 conducts launch with ‘biggest’ partnership in team history
Williams conducted a shakedown with the FW47 in a special camo design scheme which comprised prominent Atlassian branding, the team’s newest title partner.
Vowles reiterated that the deal was the “biggest” that Williams has ever boasted and even touted that it could count among the greatest in global sport along with F1.
“This is by far nothing, anything close to it, the biggest partnership we’ve ever had,” he explained. “It’s probably one of the biggest full stop in the sport or in sports.
“But more importantly, it’s a partnership of two organisations that have very close synergies on how we act and how we behave. Everything is about collaboration and teamwork. It’s about how you pull individuals together and point the right way.
“It’s about being a challenger to other brands and other systems and other dynamics. And for the first conversations we had with Atlassian, it was very clear that how we want to work with each other is how we work internally at the same time. So, there was just a jelling from the outset.
“But it’s huge for us. I think what it demonstrates, we have two of the best drivers. We have some of the best individuals as a part of us. We have individuals that know the journey we’re on. They’re all over the car. They’re a part of it. But they’re partners. They’re not sponsors. They’re partners that want to be a part of what we’re doing.
“And for me, the really big thing is those individuals are part of our journey, believe in our journey, trust in me and trust in what we’re doing. So, it’s huge.”
READ MORE – Williams kickstarts 2025 F1 campaign with FW47 launch
Discussion about this post