Sir Frank Williams: Founder of F1 team ‘Williams Racing’ passes away aged 79
Legendary Formula 1 team founder and principal Frank Williams has passed away aged 79.
Williams’s death was announced by the Williams Racing team on behalf of the family of its former owner.
The Williams family stepped away from the team after selling up to Dorilton Capital last year.
Williams had made his first foray into running an F1 team in 1969 with Frank Williams Racing Cars, which would later become Wolf-Williams before being fully bought out by Walter Wolf.
The Williams team that currently competes in F1 got its start in 1977.
“This morning Claire Williams called to inform me of the very sad news that her beloved father, Sir Frank Williams had passed away,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali in the championship’s statement.
“He was a true giant of our sport that overcame the most difficult of challenges in life and battled every day to win on and off the track. We have lost a much loved and respected member of the F1 family and he will be hugely missed.
“His incredible achievements and personality will be with etched on our sport forever. My thoughts are with all the Williams family and their friends at this sad time.”
“His passing marks the end of an era for our team and for the sport of Formula 1,” said Williams Racing CEO Jost Capito. “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.
“His values including integrity, teamwork and a fierce independence and determination, remain the core ethos of our team and are his legacy, as is the Williams family name under which we proudly race.”
