Vowles Outlines Selection Process for Future F1 Star

James Vowles unveils criteria for Williams F1’s next driver amid anticipation for Sainz’s decision.

James Vowles is currently assessing his drivers for 2025, and he knows exactly what he expects from them. The Williams F1 Team Principal wants a driver who will work closely with Alex Albon, and he is looking for someone who can contribute ideas to help the team progress. While awaiting the decision of Carlos Sainz, he is also arranging to secure the best option available.

“Above all, I need two drivers who push each other to the limit,” Vowles explains. “It’s not about one leading and the other following. It’s about two drivers who truly find their limits, which means doubling the learning, doubling the tuning work.”

“The person must believe in what Williams stands for and the direction we are taking. It’s very important to me that they seek every millisecond of performance. Your drivers are also leaders of this organisation. Ten words from them can be more powerful than an hour of me talking.”

“They must be in tune with what we are doing and take on that responsibility. Performance goes hand in hand with this. So, they need to develop the product. It’s not just about using it and complaining. It’s about saying, ‘I want this product to be better, what can I do to help? That’s what I’m looking for.'”

Anticipating a driver’s response to challenges

The British team principal explains that an analysis is conducted based on several criteria for each candidate, in addition to specific criteria that demonstrate their willingness to work for the team.

“Everything I do is largely based on data, in one form or another. We use statistics for most things. How they perform in qualifying, how they perform in the race, how well they defend, how well they attack.”

“How do they react when things go wrong, externally. Is it positive or negative? Do they support the team or push it away? Do I see that the team has traditionally progressed when they were there, or has it regressed because of them?”

“There are many factors at play, and one of them is certainly the driver at the same time. What are they like as a person? In tough times, do they want more? Or do they fundamentally turn away?”

“Are they individuals I could call at 11 pm to discuss how we’re going to make improvements? Or are they individuals who subsequently retreat into their own silo? What are they like as a person? It’s not just one thing; it’s a combination of everything.”

Finally, Vowles wants to rely on a driver who knows how to react well when faced with difficulties and who can handle the pressure: “50% of performance is at stake. 50% is about behavior and performance under pressure.”

“I would far prefer to take someone who is third in the junior championships, to be clear, but who is really skilled at performing under pressure, rather than someone who is first but struggles when performance really picks up. Because performing under pressure becomes increasingly important as you move into Formula 1.”