James Vowles ‘at home' at Williams and wants to stay for rest of career
However, heading into Sunday's British Grand Prix, Williams are currently fifth with only the might of McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull ahead of them.
Williams are fifth in the constructors' championship ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Williams' 16th and last combined drivers' and constructors' titles arrived 28 years ago and the impressive Vowles, still only 46, could be forgiven for seeing the Oxfordshire team – established by Sir Frank Williams in an old carpet warehouse – as a stepping stone to one of the grid's bigger beasts.
But when asked in an interview with the PA news agency if he ever envisages leaving, Vowles, who recently agreed a new long-term deal with Williams, replied: 'No. I can seem myself being here for the remainder of my career. And I am very comfortable with that.
'My job is to take this shirt and give it to someone else in a number of years' time, and for the team to be in a much better place as an honour to Sir Frank and his legacy.
'Williams have a passion beyond anything I have ever felt. I have never regretted a minute I have been in the building. I don't mean a day. I mean a single minute. I feel at home, I have done since the day I joined, and I have never for a second wondered if I am good enough or if this is the right place for me.'
Vowles has secured the highly-rated London-born Thai Alex Albon to a long-term deal, and also persuaded Carlos Sainz to join from Ferrari.
Albon and Sainz have delivered more points for Williams after the first 11 rounds than the British team managed across the previous three seasons combined.
However, Vowles has long earmarked next year, and an overhaul of the sport's technical regulations, as a major chance to revive Williams' former glories.
'Do I think we can win the championship?' asks Vowles. 'No, that is unrealistic. We want to anchor ourselves in fifth and move on from there. But can we be in a situation where we are fighting for podiums every now and then? Yes.
'We didn't really put much time and investment into the 2025 car. This is just low-hanging fruit we are picking up by doing the basics right and that is why I am encouraged about our pathway into next season and beyond.'
At Mercedes, Vowles played a key role in six of Lewis Hamilton's record-equalling seven world championships.
The Silver Arrows are currently exploring the possibility of luring Max Verstappen from Red Bull, which some believe would leave George Russell vulnerable.
George Russell's contract with Mercedes is up for renewal at the end of the year (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Russell's deal expires at the end of the season. However, Kimi Antonelli, Russell's rookie team-mate, does not have a firm contract for 2026 either.
And Vowles, who remains good friends with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, indicated he expects Russell to stay put.
He continued: 'Different drivers respond to different pressures and some drivers respond to the pressure of waiting for a deal. It challenges them to push on more.
'I am not seeing a negative impact on George. It makes for interesting reading, and a good story, but I am not actually seeing a driver that is particularly worried or driving differently.
'He is driving his socks off so the pressure might actually be helping him.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Connection times to be cut ‘by more than half' via new security rules for London-US flights
Travellers on connecting flights from London to the US will soon be able to avoid rechecking hold luggage and skip standard airport customs. Starting this month, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) pilot programme One Stop Security (OSS) plans to streamline terminal security steps to speed up connections for air passengers. Some American Airlines passengers flying from London Heathrow airport with connecting journeys through Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) will now be able to clear US Customs at the arrival gate. From here, customers can directly board their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking hold luggage or clearing TSA security. Typically, travellers must clear customs, claim checked bags, recheck bags and then again go through security. With OSS, checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight. The pilot system is a partnership of the TSA, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the UK Department for Transport (DfT). According to American Airlines, the new process is expected to cut airport connection times by 'more than half'. American is the first US airline to pilot the scheme on select routes at DFW. Some Delta passengers are also trialling OSS on routes from Heathrow to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Travellers with Delta will be processed in a dedicated customs area and will not have to claim and recheck their bags. However, only those who are registered in Global Entry, a 'trusted traveller programme', or have the Mobile Passport Control app, will be able to bypass TSA screening, reported the NY Times. To apply for Global Entry, British passengers are required to apply for a background check by the UK government (£42), then the US government (£90). Upon passing, passengers are subject to an in-person interview. Once completed, Global Entry is valid for five years. The introduction of the security system in the US follows a successful pilot in February for travellers connecting to international destinations from London Heathrow. David Seymour, COO at American Airlines, said: 'One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel — and importantly, to our customers — as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that's never been available before to customers connecting from international flights. 'Customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey.' TSA deputy administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News Digital that OSS could be expanded to other airports in the next month. He said: 'It really is a common sense security approach for us to streamline security from abroad to the United States.'
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
STV warns over profits as advertising market slumps and TV projects delayed
Scottish media firm STV Group has downgraded its sales and profit outlook as 'deteriorating' economic conditions squeeze advertising revenues and push back TV projects. Shares in the London-listed business plunged by about a quarter on Monday morning following the update. STV said it was now expecting full-year revenue and adjusted operating profit to be 'materially below' a consensus of analysts. Revenues are predicted to range between £165 million and £180 million for 2025. The company said it was now targeting £2.5 million worth of cost savings this year – higher than the £1.7 million outlined in March – having launched a significant savings programme last year, including across its broadcast operations. STV blamed worsening conditions in the commissioning and advertising markets in recent months for the profit and sales downgrade. Advertising revenues for the period between July and September is forecast to decline by 8%, lower than previously expected, driven by a sharp 20% drop in July, it told investors. The year-on-year decline is set to be impacted by particularly strong sales this time last year, due to the men's Euro football tournament being broadcast on TV. It follows a 10% fall in advertising revenues over the first half of 2025. A number of businesses, including WPP and S4 Capital, have flagged a worsening advertising market as more challenging economic conditions prompt clients to reign in marketing spending. Furthermore, STV warned the uncertainty was causing significant deterioration in the commissioning market. It said projects within its unscripted labels were being impacted with some in advanced development not getting the green light, and others being delayed into 2026. Nevertheless, it highlighted strong progress within its scripted labels with current projects including for Netflix, Apple, Sky and the BBC. Rufus Radcliffe, STV's chief executive, said: 'The deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop continues to lower business confidence impacting both markets in which we operate. 'STV Studios' delivery schedule for the remainder of 2025 has been impacted by the UK commissioning market, which has further weakened at the end of H1 (the first half of 2025) and into the second half of the year.' But he said production had finished on 'key titles with international appeal, including high-end drama Amadeus for Sky and a third series of Blue Lights for BBC One'. 'We are proactively responding to market conditions through a combination of investing in targeted future growth initiatives aligned with our long-term strategy and identifying efficiency and cost saving opportunities across the business,' Mr Radcliffe added.
Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Legendary horse trainer Edward O'Grady dies aged 75 just days after saddling his final runner
'ONE OF THE BEST' 'ONE OF THE BEST' Legendary horse trainer Edward O'Grady dies aged 75 just days after saddling his final runner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEGENDARY horse trainer Edward O'Grady has died aged 75 - just days after saddling his final ever runner. The King of Cheltenham before Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott came on the scene, O'Grady is remembered as one of Ireland's greatest ever handlers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Famed horse trainer Edward O'Grady, who made Cheltenham Festival his second home with a whole load of winners, has sadly died aged 75 Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd 3 O'Grady, right, stands with a much younger Willie Mullins, who he helped pave the way for Cheltenham Festival domination Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 3 Iconic James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan got one of his big acting breaks playing Edward O'Grady And he is also partly responsible for the rise of James Bond hero Pierce Brosnan - with one of the iconic actor's first big roles being to play O'Grady in the film 'Murphy's Stroke'. O'Grady himself hit the big time when he teamed up with iconic owner JP McManus to land a huge punt at the Festival in 1982. O'Grady trained the first of more than 80 McManus Cheltenham winners in the shape of Mister Donavan. A fearsome punter, McManus said he won more than £250,000 backing his horse over and over for what is now the Turners Novices' Hurdle. In today's money the victory would be worth more than £1.1million. O'Grady masterminded 18 Cheltenham Festival winners from his Tipperary base in all, his victories coming in the days when British trainers still dominated. His most famous horses included the likes of Golden Cygnet, who many said was the greatest hurdler of all time despite his only season over obstacles ending in tragedy. Dubbed 'the horse of the century', he won the 1978 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham before suffering a fatal fall in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. Gay Future, Native Upmanship, Ned Kelly, Back In Front and Tranquil Sea were other big O'Grady horses. O'Grady, who also enjoyed success as a Flat trainer having been forced to switch when farming troubles hit Ireand, was saddling horses right up until his death. His final ever runner was Sovereign Banter who ran at Cork last Friday night - mere weeks after his last winner, Our Soldier, earlier this month. Trainer Fergal O'Brien was among the first to pay tribute to a trailblazer in the sport, writing on X: "One of the very best. Sad news." This is the second death to hit racing in as many weeks, after a Grand National legend and 'amazing woman' passed away at home. Despite his success on the track, tragedy was never too far away from O'Grady's personal life. His first wife Judy passed away in 2010, seven years before second wife Maria was killed in a fall. O'Grady later remarried and leaves behind wife Kay and children Jonathan, Amber, Lucy, Mimi and Rosie Mae. More to follow.
