P1racenews AI automatic summary:
James Vowles has dismissed the idea that Mercedes — and its power unit customers — will enjoy “2014 levels” of dominance in F1 next season.
Williams team principal James Vowles reassures that the power unit performance disparity in F1 next year will not reach the levels seen in 2014 and aims to ease concerns on the matter. With new engines on the horizon for the championship, there is a cautious approach to prevent one team or power unit from dominating the competition, such as Mercedes did in the past. Contingency plans are being discussed through an “open dialogue” to address potential scenarios that may arise in the upcoming season. The FIA has implemented a program to bridge performance gaps among power unit providers, ensuring a more competitive field. Vowles, with experience from Mercedes’ dominant era, believes the competition will be closer than it was twelve years ago, emphasizing the importance of racing on a level playing field. Williams, a Mercedes customer team, benefited from the manufacturer’s dominance in the past and is actively engaged in discussions to maintain parity in the sport as it heads towards the new era of F1.
