James Vowles, Williams
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Formula 1 Special feature

What Williams’s new boss must do to change the fortunes of F1’s backmarker

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James Vowles arrives from Mercedes knowing how to win, but what does he need to do to revitalise the once-great team?

For this chapter of the Williams story, perhaps it is indeed fair to judge a book by its cover. After all, the livery that the FW45 will wear in 2023 aptly reflects the current limbo in which this historic grand prix team now finds itself.

The latest paint job is little more than a subtle evolution of what came before, when the cars were spotted racing at the back of the pack. Tweaks are minor rather than sweeping, in the same way that the Grove headquarters isn’t set for a major infrastructure overhaul. It won’t christen a new windtunnel and simulator like fellow heritage squad McLaren is busy building as a silver bullet to unlock performance.

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