Williams F1 Principal James Vowles Tests McLaren GT3 in Spain

James Vowles, Team Principal for Williams Formula 1, spent two days behind the wheel of a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain. The test took place during the F1 break between the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, marking a return to racing for the strategic F1 mind.

Why it matters:

This rare outing highlights Vowles' deep passion for motorsport beyond his demanding F1 management role. His hands-on experience in a high-performance GT3 car offers a different perspective from his usual strategic focus on the pit wall.

The Details:

• Location: Circuito de Navarra, Spain, a "great technical circuit" according to Vowles.
• Vehicle: A McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, which boasts a V8 twin-turbocharged engine delivering 740bhp and a top speed of 212mph.
• Team: Vowles reunited with Garage 59, a team he previously raced with in the Asian Le Mans Series in 2022.
• Vowles' Experience: "I was rusty to start, it’s been a few years out of a GT3 but very happy with where we ended up after two days of testing," Vowles shared. He added that he "had to hang up most of [his] engineering brain and focus on driving - and loved every second."

The Big Picture:

Since joining Williams in 2023 from Mercedes, Vowles has been instrumental in the team's resurgence. Williams climbed from 10th in 2022 to seventh in 2023, and currently sits fifth in 2025, an upward trajectory under his leadership. Beyond on-track performance, Vowles has also bolstered the team's commercial partnerships. His commitment to Williams was reaffirmed with a long-term contract extension signed in June 2025, ensuring his strategic influence continues to shape the team's future both in the boardroom and trackside.