“This car will be completely different than last year,” revealed Williams driver Logan Sargeant at the “Season Launch” on Monday, where the traditional team from Grove presented the design of the new FW46 for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
“You will have to change the driving style,” said Sargeant, whose team-mate Alexander Albon revealed that this new direction in development was due to team boss James Vowles. The Brit joined the team at the start of the 2023 season.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on James, but it’s his first year where he’s really in control,” laughs Albon. Because Vowles only came to Williams at the beginning of last year, the FW46 is the first car that was created entirely under his leadership.
“I think for the last four or five years there was a certain way the car was designed. This year there was a big departure from that. And I think that’s why we’re talking about the car being so different,” explains Albon.
This “deviation” is due to Vowles. “We are taking more risks and trying to break away from our old ways and habits,” said Albon, who explains that this new approach is risky but “definitely the right thing to do.”
Formula 1: Williams “more motivated than ever”
Sargeant agrees, explaining, “Ultimately, it’s how you grow as a team.” He enjoys working with Vowles and emphasizes: “I see that the team is more motivated than ever to improve and get back to the top.”
The team boss himself recently explained his approach and his demands on the team in the High Performance podcast as follows: “Don’t keep doing what we’ve been doing for 20 years.” It’s also not a problem if you initially take a step backwards.
It is important that you learn and gain experience. “It’s about learning something. Try something we haven’t tried before,” Vowles demands of his employees, emphasizing that this approach applies to the entire team.
This approach now seems to be making itself felt in the new car for 2024.