Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes suffer huge blow ahead of new F1 season as chief strategist leaves

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team have been dealt a serious blow ahead of the new season with the impending departure of chief strategist James Vowles to become team principal of Williams.

Sportsmail understands that the 43-year-old engineer’s departure will be announced later today.

Toto Wolff, boss of Mercedes, spoke in a Zoom press conference at 1pm this afternoon to address the Vowles situation.

Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles is set to depart to become team principal of Williams

Mercedes boss Wolff paid tribute to his outgoing chief strategist, by saying: ‘James has been a highly valued member of our team in his role as motorsport strategy director, playing an integral part in our success in recent years,’ said Wolff.

‘Having worked with him since I first joined the team in 2013, I know how diligent, capable and talented he is and have taken great satisfaction from watching James develop and grow over the past decade.

‘While we are naturally sad to be saying goodbye to such a capable member of the team, I have no doubts whatsoever that he has all the necessary skills to become a fantastic team principal in Formula One.’

His departure is a serious blow for Lewis Hamilton (pictured, left) and his Mercedes team

Vowles has been an ever-present at the summit of the scene during Mercedes’ years of dominance, and in fact stretching back to the Brawn championship success of 2009. 

His departure is major headache as the Silver Arrows look to claim back the ground they lost to Red Bull and Max Verstappen last year.

Vowles will take up the position vacated by Jost Capito, who left Williams last month after two years in charge. 

Mercedes were looking to claim back the ground they lost to Red Bull and Max Verstappen

‘I cannot wait to start with Williams Racing,’ said Vowles. ‘It’s an honour to join a team with such an incredibly rich heritage. The team is an icon of our sport, one I greatly respect, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge.

‘Mercedes have been hugely supportive on my journey, and we part on excellent terms after over 20 years of working in Brackley. I am grateful for everything (team principal and CEO) Toto (Wolff) and the team have provided.

‘It has been such a special experience to journey together through failure and success. Williams Racing have placed their faith and trust in me, and I will do the same in return.

‘Williams has tremendous potential, and our journey together starts in a matter of weeks.’

The German was brought in by investment group Dorilton Capital when they bought the team from the Williams family, headed by Sir Frank Williams, in the summer of 2020.