Vowles is receptive as Audi contemplates a move for Colapinto, while Williams F1 cements its position as the grid’s sixth powerhouse.
Carlos Sainz must have been impressed with the Williams F1 team’s performance at the last Grand Prix in Baku: both of the blue single-seaters finished in the points, in 7th and 8th places respectively. The Grove-based team even overtook Alpine F1, moving up to 8th in the constructors’ standings.
The upgrades received at recent Grands Prix are now making a significant difference for Williams F1. Team Principal James Vowles confirms that they are indeed performing as expected.
“We are looking at the suspension here, which is a tool for balancing aerodynamics. It really complements the aerodynamic evolution we implemented on the car at Zandvoort. It’s working well so far.”
Williams F1 is now 8th in the constructors’ standings, 18 points behind 6th placed RB F1. Can Williams F1 challenge for this position?
“RB F1, they’re going to be fast here in Singapore… And you can’t underestimate Haas, who have been there at every race. The midfield is so tight that even though we have a slight lead, there are still mere milliseconds separating us all. It will take a bit of luck in the race and a bit of focus from us to do our job through to the end of the year.”
Several midfield teams like Alpine F1, Haas F1, or Stake, however, plan to bring upgrades to Austin. Should Williams F1 be concerned? Because the team is now doubling down on preparations for 2025 and 2026, not on this second half of the season…
“The key point is that I have no concerns about the programme we have in place at the moment. The car has made a significant leap in performance terms, and we have yet to optimise the previous upgrades. What we’re trying to do, what all teams try to do, is to extract performance from the car as quickly as possible. I believe that we’ve taken a lead and have a few more races to utilise it than others when they come along. The second thing is, you can only focus on yourself. We’ve seen enough times this year that teams have tried to add performance and it hasn’t worked. In our case, we’re positive in this respect and what I can focus on is maximising the car and the drivers for all the remaining events.”
Could Colapinto secure a Formula 1 seat next year?
In his second Formula 1 Grand Prix with Williams F1, Franco Colapinto turned heads by finishing in 8th place, right behind Alexander Albon.
Was James Vowles also impressed, perhaps even surprised, by the Argentine’s performance?
“He did an absolutely remarkable job. And scoring points in only his second Grand Prix, just a few seconds behind Alex, is extraordinary.”
“We knew he was fast, which is why we put him in the car, but we expected it would take him longer to get up to speed. At Monza, it was pretty much what I had hoped for, but to go to a new circuit where you’ve never been before and to be on the pace right from the practice sessions, and even after an accident (in Baku)… to find his rhythm again is a challenge, and he’s very, very good at absorbing all the pressure on his shoulders and just performing.”
What is his most impressive quality?
“His calm under pressure. It’s always hard to describe what happens to these elite athletes when they step up to Formula 1. It’s a completely different world and the pressure increases exponentially, but he takes it all in stride. You can hear it on the radio, just listen to his voice. He’s incredibly calm and composed, and he always wants to learn more, always more. So, that’s the sign of a truly great person, capable of handling what comes his way.”
Like Oliver Bearman or Liam Lawson in recent years, a rookie has shown that he can jump into an F1 car and perform well. But don’t think Formula 1 is easy, continues James Vowles, the youngsters are simply better prepared than ever.
“The drivers have been exceptional. I can guarantee you that if I jumped in the car, it would be a complete mess. There’s a lot of preparation. There’s a lot of simulator work. There’s a lot of psychological training. But it’s also thanks to their natural talent shining through. And I think in both cases, it’s a big part of that talent that carries them.”
In hindsight, does James Vowles regret not placing Franco Colapinto in the Williams F1 car earlier, in place of a struggling Logan Sargeant?
“It’s an interesting question because a lot of what we were doing with him behind the scenes was preparing him for this opportunity. Silverstone was one of the first times he got into the car, and he had made a step forward from what we had done in Abu Dhabi the previous year. He had made a few strides over the winter. He had progressed in Formula 2. If we had made this driver switch at the start of the year, I don’t think you would see the Franco of today. And I think we did a lot of preparation in the simulator.”
“As for any regrets… I mean, deciding to sideline a driver is one of the toughest things one can do in my position. And I needed to be sure that it was clear it was the right time. And for me, at the point where we had improved the car and were achieving performances that could score points, it was the right decision. From that perspective, I am satisfied.”
The irony is that Colapinto will not have a seat at Williams F1 next year, as Sainz and Albon are already signed.
Would James Vowles consider releasing him if Stake/Audi were to express interest?
“What I have already said is that he’s a racing driver and I think he’s already demonstrated in just a few races that he deserves a place on the grid. What we have already said is that we are very open-minded.”
“We are waiting, in this case, for Audi or Sauber to come to us and say: what do you want, what are you interested in? From there, we can discuss what that really involves. But the first step is rather an open discussion.”
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