Williams F1 boss explains biggest hurdle in title pursuit

Williams team principal James Vowles has asserted the facilities at the team restrict it from competing at the top, including against its power unit supplier Mercedes.

Mercedes has delivered engines to Williams throughout the entire turbo-hybrid regulation, which commenced in 2014.

Williams is sticking with the German manufacturer for the next cycle of rules, which come into play this year, while it will also supply McLaren and Alpine.

As Williams aims to make strides up the pecking order, Vowles is confident Mercedes will repeat history and get a major rule change right.

“100 per cent, if Brackley is very good at one thing, it’s regulation change,” Vowles told media including RacingNews365. 

“I think that’s clear. And Mercedes are very good at it as well.”

Mercedes has already been defeated by a customer team, with McLaren taking the constructors' championship across the last two years, as well as the drivers' title with Lando Norris in 2025.

But Vowles insisted Williams' core set-up is not yet in a place where it can dream of fighting at the front and besting its power unit supplier.

“I’ve done everything we have to do to keep growing this team to be at a championship level in the future, but we do not have the facilities or the capability of Mercedes. It’s as simple as that today,” he said.

“So whilst they’ve been preparing pretty much just by ironing out the regulations and getting it right, what I’ve been doing is more laying more of a groundwork on top of trying to focus some time on the 2026 car.

“So what you can read into that is I know where it will rank out next year, and they will be, I’m sure, very strong. 

“I’m okay with that. My goal is to move this team forward step on step each year. And I think we have the capability.”