Williams boss James Vowles makes ‘idiot’ claim after rival F1 team’s decision

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James Vowles says he would be ‘an idiot’ to throw away Williams’ legacy in Formula 1 after Red Bull rebranded AlphaTauri as Visa Cash App RB ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of Red Bull Racing, initially rebranded Toro Rosso to be AlphaTauri in 2020. But four seasons with the name failed to deliver the marketing results it hoped for. AlphaTauri is a fashion brand that Red Bull launched in 2016 named after the star.

Now, the Faenza-based outfit takes on the name Visa Cash App RB from 2024 after Red Bull struck sponsorship deals with the two San Francisco-based payment services. But Vowles is still questioning their new name as it has ‘no legacy’ or an identity for F1 fans to get behind.

James Vowles would be ‘an idiot’ to let Dorilton remove the Williams name

Vowles believes he would be ‘an idiot’ to let Dorilton Capital – which bought Williams from the Williams family in August 2020 – throw away their ‘vast legacy’ by changing the team’s name. He is adamant that the name remains ‘one of our strengths’ compared to their rivals.

“It’s one of the biggest brands in motorsport and in Great Britain,” Vowles said, via quotes by Motorsport-Total. “I have no desire to change that, and neither does Dorilton, because it means a lot to me.”

Sir Frank Williams founded Williams Racing in 1977 and made the F1 team one of the most successful outfits ever. The Grove squad have so far won nine constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships. Just Ferrari with 16 have won the teams’ championship more often.

Following their latest crown in 2023, Red Bull have won the constructors’ championship six times yet to trail Lotus by one. McLaren and Mercedes have each won the team’s title eight times so far. Only Ferrari (15), McLaren (12) and Mercedes (9) have won more drivers’ titles.

James Vowles feels the Visa Cash App RB name shows one of F1’s ‘problems’

So, given their decorated history, Vowles and Dorilton agree that it would be naïve to throw away Williams’ legacy. While the Grove squad’s team principal feels Red Bull has proven one of F1’s problems by rebranding AlphaTauri with the meaningless name of Visa Cash App RB.

“I still don’t know the new name of AlphaTauri, although I was at the Formula 1 Commission meeting before and they mentioned it,” Vowles added. “But it doesn’t matter.

“They have some new name and that’s part of the problem. That has no legacy, that has no weight in my mind. Through championships, through growth and through having much of the world believing in you and following you, you create a legacy.”

Red Bull GmbH is not the only company to rebrand a Formula 1 team for 2024. Sauber have also renamed theirs as Stake F1 Team for sponsorship purposes after Alfa Romeo ended its naming rights deal. Sauber will run as Stake F1 Team through 2025 before turning into Audi.