WILLIAMS IMPROVING OFF AND ON TRACK

Team boss Vowles believes financial and racing rebuild moving in right direction

- Benjamin Lim Correspondent

When James Vowles took over as team principal of British Formula One outfit Williams in 2023, he quickly realised the scale of the challenge he had inherited.

The lack of data, processes and even a proper corporate structure came as a rude shock to the former strategy director of Mercedes, the team who dominated the sport with eight consecutive constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships between 2014 and 2021.

Once a dominant force in F1 with multiple world championship wins, Williams have fallen into debt and seen a steep decline in recent years, finishing last in the constructors’ standings four times between 2018 and 2022.

For Vowles, an engineer by training, rebuilding one of motor racing’s most iconic teams and turning it around would be an uphill battle requiring substantial investment.

It would also stretch far beyond the race track and test his mettle as a businessman and strategist.

He likened the challenge of rebuilding Atlassian Williams to a “10-20-year play at a 50-year-old startup”, rather than a short two-three-year project.

“I’m not selling road cars like Ferrari, I’m not selling fizzy drinks (like Red Bull). We are selling effectively racing, and that is even harder to secure investment for,” he told The Straits Times during an Oct 3 interview.

In October 2024, with help from owners Dorilton Capital - a US investment firm - Williams raised £271.5 million (S$472.5 million) through a share placement. A further £284 million was raised in December 2024, taking the total to £555.5 million.