James Vowles is optimistic about the project that is developing at Williams. He is confident the Grove-based team can make rapid progress in the coming years, including in 2025. The Williams boss has detailed the team’s approach to development.
Early focus on next year’s car
F1 is often an exercise in balance and compromise, with teams working on a combination of short and long-term goals.
With the budget cap, teams are under additional pressure to prioritise and decide how their resources will be allocated.
For James Vowles, however, it is clear the factory in Grove must divert its energy to the future.
Despite still working on a few updates for the remainder of this year, the focus at Williams is now unequivocally on next year and beyond:
“We’re also investing in 25, so our car in the wind tunnel is not the 2024 car,” motorsport.com quotes him as saying.
“It’s been the 2025 one for quite a few months.
“The reason why we’re doing this is not because I believe in 2025. But I want to get the 2026 car in the tunnel as soon as possible, but still have a sensible 2025 season.
“Everything we’re doing is basically forward borrowing against getting everything as quickly as possible into 2026.
“With the additional resources, we now have team members focused on ’24, ’25 ’26, and a little bit of ’27 as well at the same time.”
Williams work to accelerate transitional phase
As made clear by James Vowles in his comments to the media in recent months, where Williams finish this year is not the priority.
Indeed, there are still limitations on what the British squad can achieve next season.
The main target for the former Mercedes strategist is to put the team in a position to thrive when 2026 begins.
This is the year when new regulations will reset the pecking order. There will be no excuses if Williams underperforms in two years.
Having two high-calibre drivers like Sainz and Albon will bring elevated pressure and scrutiny.
Then again, as mentioned previously by James Vowles, these are the expectations the team must contend with to become a top team.
