Williams Racing has begun the 2025 season with its best performance in more than a decade, according to team principal James Vowles. The Grove-based team has collected points in 10 of the 14 races so far, currently holding fifth place in the constructors’ standings with 70 points, showcasing steady progress in a highly competitive Formula 1 season.
Leadership Shift and Ongoing Team Development
James Vowles took over leadership at Williams in 2023, succeeding Jost Capito, as part of a broader effort to restore the team’s former success. Despite the nine constructors‘ championships Williams has won historically, the team has not secured a title since 1997. Under Vowles’ guidance, the squad is aiming to regain its position among the F1 elite by focusing on car performance and strategic consistency.
Mixed Feelings on Performance and Missed Opportunities
While encouraged by the best start the team has achieved in years, Vowles expressed a blend of pride and frustration when reflecting on races where Williams could have added more points. He said,
“So, how I feel, first of all, mixed emotions. I’m very proud of where we have come from. We have to remember this is our best start to a season for over a decade, and we’ve done well to score a good number of points on our journey here,”
—James Vowles, Team Principal.
He also highlighted specific events such as Imola and Miami where tactical errors and incidents reduced their points haul.
“The negative is always when I reflect back on certain races, Imola being one with strategy with Carlos,”
he said.
“Miami being another, which is a combination of accident, car damage, and conditions. We had more points that we could have scored across those two events where the car was performing very, very well.”
—James Vowles, Team Principal.
Additionally, reliability issues in Austria cost the team valuable points when driver Alex was running in sixth position before a fault caused retirement.
Commitment to Maximizing Points in Upcoming Races
Looking ahead, Vowles acknowledged the narrow margins in the world championship fight and the significance of every point scored.
“So, I know there’s real tangible points we’ve left on the table and in a close world championship as it is, that’s painful. However, nothing beats a fast car and I’m confident the car we have across most of the circuits remaining for the rest of the year will be competitive. We have a duty and responsibility to score as many points as we can in that journey.”
—James Vowles, Team Principal.
The 2025 season still has 10 races remaining, with the Dutch Grand Prix scheduled for 29-31 August following the summer break. Williams aims to build on its strong start and maintain the momentum as it pursues a return to the front of the grid.