James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, recently extended an apology to Mick Schumacher following some controversial remarks he made during the Italian Grand Prix. Initially, Vowles suggested that Schumacher wasn’t “special” enough to land a seat with Williams, sparking backlash from fans.
With a decision to make on who would partner Alex Albon for the final nine races of the season, Williams faced the choice between Schumacher, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, and their own academy talent, Franco Colapinto. Ultimately, the team opted for Colapinto, citing his strong ties to the Williams Academy and his familiarity with their simulator.
During his earlier comments, Vowles stated:
“We had three options: Liam Lawson, Mick, and Franco. With Liam’s Red Bull contract, he wasn’t a viable option for us. The choice between Franco and Mick was difficult.”
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He continued, “Mick has shown significant improvements since his time at Haas. He’s a competent driver, but our decision came down to investing in someone from our academy who has extensive experience with our simulator and is demonstrating considerable progress.”
Vowles then remarked, “Both drivers are solid, yet I would categorize Mick as good, not special.”
In his latest comments during an F1 TV broadcast, Vowles elaborated, clarifying, “When I saw the headlines, I realized the use of the word ‘special’ was taken out of context. I didn’t mean to put Mick down; he’s a reserve driver for a championship-winning team and an incredibly strong candidate.”
He recognized the challenges Schumacher has faced, acknowledging, “Mick has made fantastic strides and has a strong team around him. Our choice was aimed at prioritizing our academy drivers.”
Vowles emphasized, “I’ve apologized to Mick; he didn’t ask for it, but it’s crucial for me to convey that. His abilities shouldn’t be doubted, but as Williams, we must adhere to our academy strategy.”