So the 2024 Formula One season officially got underway for the Williams Racing Team with a presentation of the teams 2024 livery and sponsors at an event in the New York City store of one of their new partners Puma.

It was certainly an event that attracted a lot of attention with fans queued around the block to get to see the new livery. Combined with this event was an online presentation where we got to hear from various individuals including Team Principal James Vowles and drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant.

In the days that have followed we have gained further insights into the team preparations and expectations for the upcoming 2024 Formula One season.

Speaking at the teams 2024 launch Team Principal James Vowles would comment on the teams preparations mentioning in particular that most important of events the first engine startup of the FW46.

James said: "I think we're probably the last team to get it all together and fire the car up, which happened today. It's a momentous occasion for the team, and I love being here, don't get me wrong... but I also really miss the fact that I didn't get to hear the car for the first time."

But this moment for James had to be kept in the perspective of the his aspirations for the Williams team. For James his new role at Williams has seen him move into what is a challenging position in terms of returning the team back to where it has been in its history, that of a championship winning team.

James explained his view of where he wants to see the team "I didn't care about last year, and I don't really care about this year. Yeah, I'm confident we've done a really good job, but what I care about is us fighting at the front for championships again.

"Everything is about long-term resolution, not short-term, and the result of that is that we took - and we will continue to take - enormous risks with this company.

"I'm not going to be withheld because my job is on the line if we're not doing a good enough job. The only way to get this team back to the front is break everything.

"I've used the terms internally: "break the cycle". And that's exactly what we are doing. Even what we've done the last two months, I'm really proud of what we've achieved... [but] it's not good enough."

As for the FW46 James spoke of this: "We have been working on the new car since March (2023)." The new FW46 is a real step forward for Williams as the chassis of was built using new technologies and the aerodynamics will see a new approach.

Vowles wanted to see the team come up with a design that would help eliminate the short comings of previous designs. Based on the comments from Alex it would seem that they are moving in the right direction. Coming from the work on the simulator Alex said: "The new car feels completely different. I had to adapt my driving style for it. Because the car is more predictable."

As for whether people will see the new FW46 as a repeat of another cars James added: "If we have come up with a solution here and there that is reminiscent of other cars, it is because our research has shown it to be the best. In the past, we simply copied things and then tried to understand how they work."

For James so far the simulation work seems to indicate that they are on the right path but he added: "There is so much that is new about this car that we need experience on the race track to verify it."

Vowles also wanted to see his technical team take on the challenge of building a more driver friendly car. James said: "I told them that they should dare to do something. If we fail, then I will take the blame. If we don't take a new path, then we'll stay where this team has been for the last ten years. We can't be satisfied with seventh or eighth place in the medium term. That's why we've taken full risks everywhere."

Coming into the 2024 season James' views certainly show his commitment to achieving his aims for the team. His commitment also was seen in his assurance that the team will never lose the Williams name as he acknowledges the legacy that the name has.

Speaking on Williams James said: “I think it’s one of the biggest brands, certainly in motorsport and certainly in the UK. I also have no desire whatsoever to change it nor do Dorilton for that matter, because it means a tremendous amount. Frank and his legacy remain in us. And you’ll see on the livery now as well, if you look you’ll see his arrow subtly embedded in there."

Coming off the 2024 launch was the opportunity to hear more from 2024 drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. Alex is coming off a 2023 season that saw him well and truly establish himself as an in-demand F1 driver. Logan had a tough 2023 season but will continue with the team in 2024.

James spoke of Alex in the highest terms. He said: "It is our job at Williams to create an environment that deserves someone of the calibre of Alex. Simple as that. I've said that from the beginning and I still maintain that. He is an incredible driver who deserves his place towards the front.

"He did drives last year that I've already commented are no different to some of the other champions I've worked with. He kept half the field behind in one race and we put him in difficult positions and he overcame that to score points."

He added: "[Albon] and I have good chats about where we want to move forward and we want to have our journey together in this team for a long time. We have to earn that right. It's not given, by any stretch of imagination, nor should it be, for that matter.

As for the prospect of Alex leaving the Williams team James explained: "For the situation with Alex, would I stand in his way? I have the responsibility of Williams on my shoulder - that's the most important thing to me. It's not the responsibility towards one individual, in this case Alex. This responsibility is towards the team so, should any decision go that way, it's because I'm very clear in my mind that I've made decisions that are correct for the team's long-term goals."

"Alex is signed in Williams until the end of 2025. That's signed. It's not something I've been very public about, because I don't feel the need to. So any reports that you're seeing - and there's one in particular - that individual is speculating at best."

But how does James keep his major asset with the team. For Alex his career must come first and if an offer from another team is made it will be fascinating to see if he would move on from Williams. For James the main basis of retaining Alex will be by continuing to offer him opportunities that are such that he will see Williams as a worthwhile place to stay.

Alex spoke of his relationship with Vowles by saying: “James is extremely involved and he always keeps me up to date with the progress of the team, the areas we need to work on, the areas that I could help him improve. He’s very open in that sense – which is, obviously, a very nice thing to have.”

“I just have to be happy with the journey that we’re on and the progress that we’re making. That’s pretty clear of where I see the team and where I want the team to be. I’ll be assisting in pushing for that as long as I can.”

2023 would see James make the announcement of saying that Logan Sargeant would remain with the team in 2024. Logan had shown some signs of progress during his difficult rookie season such that James continued to support the young American.

For Logan his view of James as he goes into 2024 was one of: "He has definitely put stress on the system and in the end of the day that's how you grow as a whole and as a team and personally he has been great to work with the past year and I really feel like I can see the team motivated even more than ever to keep improving and get back to the front."

For me 2024 will see the first year where James Vowles is well and truly seeing the Williams team operating under his plans for the future. Where this will see the team at the end of the 2024 season is a question that will depend on how all the pieces that James has brought together, including the arrival of Pat Fry in the Technical head role, allow for a more complete package. Could the team be producing results that will see it up in the midfield.

Is a championship position of higher than seventh a realistic goal. For James he does not think so. He explained that he did not feel that this was realistic, believing that more work needs to be done. "

He added: "We are not yet good enough to make the next leap within a year."

As for Alex he has somewhat higher expectations: "I would like to get the team to where Alpine was last year. They were only one position ahead of us in the team standings, but the points gap was pretty big. If we were to finish ahead of them, that would be a huge step."