Sir Frank & Claire Williams Both Leave Roles At Legendary F1 Team

Frank Williams guides his F1 cars at a Grand Prix before Claire took over reigns of the team

After the Italian Grand Prix, the Williams Racing team remained in Formula 1 under a new management. Sir Frank Williams and Claire, his daughter, ended their association with their family-owned Formula 1 team. The two concluded their roles as the Team Principal and Deputy Principal, respectively, after the team was purchased by Dorilton Capital, an investment company in the United States.

With the new management, many Formula 1 sports lovers and punters believe that the team will be a perfect option when it comes to betting – especially on George ‘Mr. Saturday’ Russell’s qualifying form. And sites like Sportsbet will offer the best odds on it. You can try it out if you want to enjoy the thrill that betting on Formula 1 races offer.

The New Board of Management at Williams

After leaving their roles, the new management announced the creation of a new board to manage the company. The current board consists of:

  • James Mathews: The CEO of Eden Rock
  • Darren Fultz: Chief Executive Officer of Dorilton Capital
  • Mathew Savage: Chair of Dorilton Capital

Individuals who will replace both – Sir Frank and Claire Williams haven’t been announced. Sir Frank, who established the company with Sir Patrick Head in 1977, has been one of the best and most successful team owners/principals in history with 9 Constructors’ and 7 Drivers’ Championships. On the other hand, Claire Williams has been the Deputy Team Principal since 2013.

Williams Lasting Formula 1 Legacy

Currently, Sir Frank is 78 years of age, and he first involved himself in Formula 1 in 1969. The Frank Williams Racing Cars were his first venture and saw him operate a customer Brabham chassis. Williams Racing is the current team and was established in 1977. Operating out of an old warehouse in Oxfordshire, Williams Racing won its first race with Clay Regazzoni at the British GP in 1979 and the first Drivers’ title the following year with the Australian, Alan Jones.

In March 1986, a car accident led to Williams sustaining serious injuries, leaving him tetraplegic. Despite this, Williams continued to manage the team, and it won a total of 7 titles in the 1980s, including three Drivers’ and four Constructors’. In 1992 and 1997, the team added more titles to its name. Although Jacques Villeneuve’s championship in 1997 remains the team’s last title win. Williams Racing won several races with BMW power in the 2000s.

The team experienced a few highs in the 2000s but since then, Williams Racing has slipped backwards and finished bottom in Constructors’ Championship in the past few seasons. Despite the difficulties, the family and the team have remained massively admired and popular among sports lovers and investors.

Summary

For both Sir Frank and Claire Williams, it’s the end of the chapter. However, the legacy will continue. And the two believe that the company will continue to enjoy full support from its fans from across the world. They wished the current board and the entire team all the best in the next endeavours.

Kunal Shah is an FIA-accredited Formula 1 journalist who has been reporting on Formula 1 for nearly two decades. He worked with the Force India Formula 1 Team for 6 seasons in Marketing, Sponsorship and Commercial roles. As a former single-seater racer, he was responsible for Force India's grassroots talent program, One from a Billion Hunt. Presently, he co-writes a regular Formula 1 column for Firstpost, speaks on Inside Line F1 Podcast & Pits to Podium and produces broadcast/OTT content for NENT Group (Viasport & Viaplay).

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