Who is James Vowles, we look at his history in Formula One. After earning a master’s degree in Motorsport Engineering & Management in 2001, James began his career in Formula 1 at British American Racing (later known as Honda). In 2006, he celebrated his first win as an engineer when Jenson Button won at the Hungaroring. In 2009, James was promoted to a race strategist position during the management buyout of Honda to become Brawn GP. He played a crucial role in Jenson’s and Brawn GP’s championship victories that year, with Jenson winning six of the first seven rounds and Rubens Barrichello winning two in the latter half of the season.
In 2010, Mercedes acquired the Brackley team and set their sights on the upcoming rule changes for 2014. James and the team had to wait four seasons for their success, with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton achieving a few victories and Michael Schumacher getting his final podium. With the introduction of hybrid technology, James played a critical role in key strategies that led to his promotion as Motorsport Strategy Director. From 2014 to 2022, he was instrumental in 112 wins from 182 Grands Prix, making crucial decisions for Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas, and George Russell.
After spending 20 years at Brackley, James will leave the team having played a significant role in winning nine F1 Constructors’ Championships with Brawn GP and Mercedes Formula One Team, which includes over 120 race victories. He said upon his departure, “Mercedes has been incredibly supportive throughout my journey, and we part on great terms after 20 years in Brackley. I am grateful for everything Toto and the team have given me, and it has been an unforgettable experience to go through both failures and successes together.”