Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner warns current Williams team principal James Vowles. According to the Italian, the pressure on Vowles is increasing as his British team is not performing as hoped under the 2026 regulations. Steiner expects Vowles to turn things around this season. ‘Otherwise, you’re out,’ he warns.
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With seventeenth and eighteenth places for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz respectively during the Hungarian GP, the Williams team is not heading into the summer break with a good feeling. The British team again struggled with race pace at the Hungaroring, resulting in Sainz only being able to fight in the back with Fernando Alonso.
This forms a stark contrast with Williams a year ago, when the same Sainz still achieved two podium finishes. Former team principal Günther Steiner also sees how the British team is ‘falling further behind’. The Italian therefore has a message for team principal James Vowles. “As much as I think he (Vowles, ed.) is not doing his job well, I think you should at least give him time to read all the emails he received at the start of the year,” Steiner joked on the Red Flags podcast.
The former team principal then warns Vowles to come up with a solution for Williams before the end of the year. “Otherwise, let him go,” Steiner continues. “If things continue as they are now, changes will happen after five or six races next year. You’ve had enough time to read your emails and improve things. And if you haven’t done that, then you’re out.”
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Decline
Vowles started at Williams as team principal in 2023. In 2025, the team achieved two podium finishes for the first time under his leadership. Carlos Sainz finished third twice in Azerbaijan and Qatar. Since the introduction of the new regulations, however, Williams has struggled again, currently standing ninth in the constructors’ championship. Only Aston Martin and Cadillac have scored fewer championship points.
“At the start of the season, Williams promised us: ‘We’re coming back; we know exactly what we need to do,’” Steiner stated. “And what turns out? At the moment, they are going backwards instead of forwards.”
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