The relationship between Mercedes and Williams has always been strong, with many drivers and staff making moves between the two teams.
Valtteri Bottas and George Russell have both stepped up to race for the Silver Arrows following impressive spells with Williams and now Mercedes strategic director James Vowles has made the move the other way.
Having increased his responsibilities with Mercedes in recent seasons, the next natural progression for the Brit was to become a team principal, a pathway blocked by Toto Wolff.
The arrival of Vowles is an exciting one for Williams, as the 43-year-old has been with Mercedes ever since they joined Formula 1, contributing to eight consecutive victories in the drivers’ championship.
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Williams driver Alex Albon has admitted that his team will be looking to lean on their new boss’ experience with the Silver Arrows, hoping to learn from their success.
“He’s obviously carrying a lot of experience from Mercedes,” he said at Williams’ season launch.
“For a team like us I feel like we are going to take that with both hands. Try and look at the areas where a top team like them, what are they doing differently to us and how can we adapt and make quick progress.”
It has been suggested by other team principals such as Red Bull’s Christian Horner that Mercedes allowed Vowles to move to Williams to aid the relationship between the two teams.
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Williams are an engine customer of Mercedes and the process of Vowles’ move to the team was a lot smoother than you would usually expect when such an important staff member is moving to a different team.
Toto Wolff has explained that the team had been bracing for Vowles’ departure for a number of years, with the current strategy team more than prepared to step up in the absence of their boss.
With Alex Albon and the exciting American rookie Logan Sargeant in the car for 2023, Vowles’ appointment as Williams boss could be the final piece in the puzzle to help the team move back into the midfield.