Williams team principal James Vowles has insisted that his outfit are a squad ‘without politics’ after admitting that they are currently in talks with legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey over a sensational return to the team.
The 65-year-old engineer has been with Red Bull for the better part of two decades and helped to establish the dominance of both Sebastian Vettel at the start of the 2010s, as well as Max Verstappen after the 2021 title fight.
However, with the internal drama surrounding team principal Christian Horner overshadowing his exceptional work and the general mood within the Red Bull camp turning sour, Newey opted ahead of the Miami Grand Prix that he would make a change, leaving Red Bull before the end of the first quarter of 2024.
While his next destination remains a mystery, Ferrari seems the most likely transition for the Essex-born engineer. However, Newey could also be tempted by a fairytale return to Williams, with whom he worked during the 1990s.
Discussing rumours of talks between himself and Newey, Vowles said: “It was a light conversation more than anything else, saying it can’t have been an easy decision and fundamentally wanting just to have an additional chat about things.
“But from a Williams perspective, obviously, that’s where Adrian really cut his teeth for the first time. And I think we’re a team without politics.”
While it is clear that going from title contention at Red Bull to scrapping in the lower midfield at Williams would represent a step down for Newey, Vowles believes that the beauty of the project could appeal as a final job for his glittering career.
“It’s a small team that’s trying to make our way back to the front,” he explained. “I think it could fit very perfectly for someone that wants to potentially dig into a challenge like that. More than that, I mean, what is great about Williams is that it has retained the family feel to it. We’re not driven by an OEM.
“We’re driven by just a group of individuals that want to be there. It’s all about really racing. And hopefully, some of that plays to his strengths. Then finally with Adrian, you have someone with his accolades, with his touch.
“There’s not a team he hasn’t been to – and that includes McLaren, ourselves, Red Bull – where he hasn’t made a significant difference. I think anyone here would be foolish not to at least open some conversation with him at that stage.”
