Mercedes is currently suffering its most challenging period since Toto Wolff became team principal, as the team struggles to adapt the slate of regulations that were introduced at the start of the 2022 season.
The biggest overhaul of regulations in the sport’s history saw Mercedes lose the Constructors’ Championship for the first time in eight years.
Amid the difficulties currently faced at Mercedes, the team is not seeking to shake-up its engineering team, putting a ban on its sister team Williams poaching Silver Arrows staff.
The move comes despite Lewis Hamilton being open in his disappointment with the engineers, feeling that he wasn’t listened to during the design of the W14.
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Hamilton publicly called for those responsible for the design’s flaws to “own up,” demanding “accountability,” as Red Bull continues to dominate the sport.
James Vowles, a former Mercedes strategist, has confirmed that he has been unable to bring former colleagues with him after joining Williams as its new team principal.
“That is correct. But that’s not just the case between Mercedes and me,” Vowles told Auto Motor und Sport when asked about the poaching ban.
“Anyone who leaves a team cannot simply take people with them.
“In my particular circumstances, I know some very intelligent people from other organisations that I’m in touch with.
“Hopefully, some of them will find their way to us.”
The interest from Williams in some of Vowles’s old colleagues comes as the team is set to be restructured under the new leadership.
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“I don’t think we were particularly clever in working out the cost cap.
“We are in the process of changing that. The number of employees falls back on this.
“To answer your question: there are different models. But if you look at the top teams – Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari – they employ a lot of smart people. That’s what you strive for.”