James Vowles, team principal at Williams, shares a unique bond with Alexander Albon. The Brit reflects on Albon’s journey – from Mercedes junior to Red Bull driver and finally to Williams – and discusses the importance of rebuilding the Thai-British driver’s confidence after his stint at Red Bull.
“I’ve known Alex since 2016,” Vowles reveals on the Business of Sports podcast. “He was with Mercedes then, later moved to Red Bull, but I knew him even before that. He, Lando Norris, and Russell really grew up together. They still often hang out together in the paddock.” However, Vowles noticed something crucial missing in Albon: self-confidence. “I knew then that he was very fast, but he had little faith in himself. I don’t think he realized how good he actually was.”
Albon’s time at Red Bull left its mark. He unexpectedly landed a seat at Red Bull in mid-2019, taking over from Pierre Gasly. Because he joined so early, he had little time to adapt to the complex car and the high pressure within the top team. He had to perform immediately alongside Max Verstappen, which only heightened expectations. This made his time at Red Bull extremely challenging. “When I met him again at Williams in 2023, he still didn’t really believe in himself,” Vowles continues. “That entire Red Bull journey was incredibly tough for him. And that first year at Williams didn’t exactly help him regain his confidence.”
Confidence with Results
Vowles saw a clear task for himself: to remind Alexander Albon of his capabilities. “My role was to build a sort of shield around him. To let him know: ‘You are incredibly good.’ He belongs at the top of this sport. And I provide him with the platform on which he can grow.”
The effectiveness of this approach is evident this season. Albon is performing exceptionally well and currently ranks eighth in the world championship with Williams – an impressive achievement that is not to be taken for granted. “He has the talent. But I hope that I have contributed to his personal growth. That he now has the confidence to give his all every weekend.” Yet, Vowles remains modest about his role: “Let’s be clear: he does the hard work. What I do is just give a few gentle nudges from the side. Ensuring he feels good about himself, nothing more.”
