07 September 2023 , 20:08
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James Vowles has earned praised from former colleagues Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for the job he has done in his first six months as Williams team principal.
Vowles officially began the role in February. And his task is not a small one – he is in charge of the project to restore a team that has toiled at the back of the grid for any years to its former glory.
To take on the job, he had to leave his role as one of Toto Wolff's top lieutenants at Mercedes. He might have inherited the team principal job with the Silver Arrows one day had he stuck around, but took a gamble which, so far, appears to be paying off.
Vowles' project is a long term one. In an exclusive interview with Mirror Sport at last month's Dutch Grand Prix, he admitted Williams' results in 2023 and '24 are of little interest to him as he focuses instead upon hauling the team into the 21st century and building a platform for long-lasting success.
Regardless, results this season have looked pretty good. F1 rookie Logan Sargeant has yet to score, but Alex Albon is flying and the 21 points he has secures so far have propelled a team which has grown far too used to being at the bottom up to seventh place in the constructors' championship.
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Those results have earned plenty of admiration for the job Vowles is doing from all sides. And one of those most vocal about his success is Hamilton, who worked with him for many years at Mercedes.
"James is exceptional and we had an amazing journey together, we achieved so much together," said the seven-time world champion. "We still have a very good friendship. I remember him being in the role [at Mercedes] and realising there was nowhere for him to really progress within the system.
"I knew that just it was a matter of time that he would break away and this opportunity came up, it was so great and so right for him. So many people questioned whether he could do it and you're seeing such a great impact that he's having there. He's got such a great mindset."
Rosberg is another who knows Vowles very well, having spent several years with Mercedes including four as Hamilton's team-mate. Speaking to Sky Sports, the German said: "I'll give him a 10 out of 10 – I don't see anything he could have done better."