© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Former Mercedes Motorsport Strategy Director James Vowles says “Mercedes lost a year of development, while I was there”, but believes “they will return to the forefront”.
James Vowles left his position as Mercedes’ Motorsport Strategy Director at the beginning of this year, to assume the role of Team Principal at Williams.
In a talk with L’Equipe, the Briton explains the German team has lost a year of development back in 2022, because of their wrong development direction.
“The gap has narrowed compared to what happened before,” Vowles said.
“It will just take time for this to take place. I think Mercedes lost a year of development, while I was there, simply because the direction they took was very different from that of the rest of the peloton. As you can see today.
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“And sometimes, you have to believe in what you do. That’s what they’re doing now. It must be understood that we are not taking the right direction.
“But this year has not been erased. We can’t get rid of it in the space of a week.”
However, Vowles believes Mercedes can again be fighting at the top of the grid in six to twelve months.
“What you will see is that they will start slowly, I am sure, to learn about the package and how to develop it because it is an incredible organisation.
“They will return to the forefront, but I think it will take them another six or twelve months to be able to do it,” he concluded.
