Helmut Marko: Vowles' exit with top technicians causes "tension" in Mercedes F1

The recent move of James Vowles, chief strategist for Mercedes, to Williams as team principal has created a buzz in the Formula 1 community. Vowles, who had been a key member of the Mercedes team for several years, played a crucial role in the team's success in recent seasons.

Toto Wolff commented on Vowles' departure, saying "we are naturally sad to be saying goodbye to such a capable member of the team, but I have no doubts whatsoever that James has all the necessary skills to become a fantastic team principal in Formula One."

Helmut Mark was asked directly about the speculation surrounding Williams becoming a "B team" for Mercedes.

In an interview with sport1.de, Marko stated, "No, I have completely different information. Vowles went of his own accord and – so it is said – even takes good engineers with him. My sources tell me that's why the mood at Mercedes is so tense."

Vowles  has emphasized that Williams should not be considered a "mini-Mercedes" and that it has its own history and heritage.

He has stated that Williams is an "incredibly independent team in its own right" and that he is looking forward to the opportunity to help the team achieve its goals and return to the front of the grid.

Helmut Marko was asked about the potential impact of James Vowles' exit from Mercedes on the team's performance, specifically in regards to 'Lewis Hamilton and Co'.

Marko responded, "We’ll see. However, I still believe that Mercedes will be our biggest challenger when it comes to defending our title."