Williams F1 Racing’s founder Frank Williams has passed away at the age of 79. Williams founded the team way back in 1977 and was associated with it until last year, before it was sold to Dorilton Capital.
The F1 team released a statement on Sunday to disclose the sad passing away of Frank Williams.
“The Williams Racing team is truly saddened by the passing of our founder, Sir Frank Williams. Sir Frank was a legend and icon of our sport. His passing marks the end of an era for our team and for the sport of Formula 1. He was one of a kind and a true pioneer. Despite considerable adversity in his life, he led our team to 16 world championships, making us one of the most successful teams in the history of the sport,” said the statement.
Tributes have poured in from all corners following the passing away of Frank Williams, with Lewis Hamilton calling him one of the kindest people in sport and FIA chief Jean Todt stating that Williams was an exemplary man.
Williams had been a constant feature on the F1 grid since the 70s, despite suffering a nasty car incident, which resulted in him becoming a tetraplegic. Despite his disability, he was present in most F1 races in a wheelchair. He started his motorsports career as a mechanic, before becoming a team owner, running F3 and F2 cars, before progressing to F1.
Frank Williams led the team to 9 Constructors’ Championship as well as 7 Drivers’ Championship. The very first title for Williams came just three years after their inception in 1980, when Alan Jones won his first and only Drivers’ Championship, while Williams waltzed to the Constructors title as well.
Two more Williams drivers, Keke Rosberg and Nelson Piquet, won titles with Williams in the 80s, while four drivers won with the British team in the 90s, including English driver Damon Hill and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve’s title win in 1997 was the last time a Williams driver won the Drivers’ Championship and the last time the team won the Constructors’ Championship too.
The team, over the last few seasons, have fallen to the back of the pack and didn’t even score a single point last season. Financial difficulties forced the Williams family to put the team for sale, which was finalized last year.
Frank Williams will be regarded as one of the most important people in the history of F1, and one of the last family-run teams in the sport.
