Williams team principal James Vowles cannot understand the criticism of the midfield that caused a stir when Fernando Alonso voiced it in Austin
Following the US Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso described around a third of the driver line-up as lacking in quality. The standard of driving was “extremely low”, in the words of the two-time world champion. An assessment with which Williams team principal James Vowles vehemently disagrees.
When asked by Tom Clarkson whether this was the best field of drivers he had seen in his Formula 1 career so far, the team principal replied: “I’d say yes! I’ve just been trying to think of another year. There’s probably some statistician out there who won’t agree, but in my opinion, that’s exactly what it is.”
Vowles has been involved in Formula 1 since 2001. The engineer spent the majority of his career at Mercedes, formerly known as Brawn GP, Honda and British American Racing. Since 2023, Vowles has been team principal of the long-established Grove-based team.
“Out there, you’re seeing an extremely close battle between all of us in the [hinteren Mittelfeld],” said Vowles. “We’re separated by just a few milliseconds, and your position on lap 1 can really dictate the race. That means there’s simply a lot more battling going on at the back than there used to be.”
Alonso had clashed with Williams driver Alexander Albon on lap 1 in Austin. Consequently, his team principal is faced with the Aston Martin driver’s extremely harsh judgement.
Whilst Albon dismisses the incident as a normal battle, Alonso remains true to his communicative approach in Mexico too, emphasising: “My opinion hasn’t changed.”
At least ahead of the race in Mexico, Alonso and Albon appear anything but hostile. They’ve been in a joking mood at events surrounding the Grand Prix.
Unsurprisingly, Vowles does not think much of the Aston Martin driver’s opinion. “Fernando is one of the greats of the sport, and he has the right to express his opinion,” says Vowles. “But I have to disagree with him on this.”
“It was simply a racing incident. It’s the first lap; both were battling for the same patch of tarmac, and there was a Haas somewhere nearby. That’s when the gaps simply close quickly.”
“The field these days is packed with race winners and drivers capable of fighting for the podium. That includes Fernando himself, of course. So I don’t think his comments necessarily hold water.”
Publicly, the Aston Martin driver’s perspective is rarely supported. Whilst drivers such as Pierre Gasly or Oliver Bearman practise diplomacy, Liam Lawson sees the problem lying elsewhere entirely. After all, he argues, it is far too difficult to even get a foot in the door of the Formula 1 circus.