The Williams Team Principal worked at Mercedes during their period of dominance between 2014 and 2021, and rates Lewis Hamilton above Michael Schumacher.
Williams Team Principal, James Vowles, has ranked Lewis Hamilton ahead of Michael Schumacher during his time at Mercedes.
Vowles was Chief Strategest at Mercedes during their dominant period at the start of the hybrid era in 2014, through to their to their eighth Constructors’ Championship in 2021.
He also worked with Schumacher on his three-year return from 2010, when the seven-time World Champion took just one podium at the 2012 European Grand Prix.
Vowles believes Hamilton is the most “naturally talented” driver he has worked with, offering insight into how his mindset changed while at Mercedes when speaking to the High Performance podcast.
“I struggle to find another sport similar to this where it’s a team sport, but it starts by beating your teammate. If you don’t beat your teammate, you’re in trouble – but that’s just one fight. The key behind it is how everyone contributes to this success,” said Vowles.
“With Lewis, he was – and still is today – the most naturally talented driver I’ve worked with including Michael (Schumacher).
“His mentalty at the time [when he joined the team] was a brilliant one. It was ‘I’m going to win every race at all costs’ but if you speak to him today, he accepts that it’s the second places and third places that win championships.
‘Working with the team on the days that you can’t win the race will give you far more of a reward than pushing everyone away to win a single race out of it.”
