I have been a fan of the Williams Formula 1 team for 40 years, ever since the Australian driver, Alan Jones, won his and William's first Formula 1 Driver's Championship in 1980. So for a sports-crazed nation like Australia, we were excited to have our first Formula 1 driver's champion since Sir Jack Brabham in 1966.
Williams Racing was started by Frank Williams and Patrick Head in 1977. Their first race entry as a constructor was the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix, and their first win was with Clay Regazzoni at the wheel of the FW07 at the 1979 British Grand Prix. With seven Driver's Championships and nine Constructor's Championships, they have been one of the most successful teams in modern Formula 1 history.
A roll-over car accident in 1986 rendered Frank a person with quadriplegia. From his wheelchair, Frank would return to the team after the accident and guide them through their most successful period, during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Since its inception, Frank and Patrick have owned the team. However, in recent years, the team has fallen on hard times. The costs of Formula 1 racing has become astronomical, and the successful organisations rely on an alliance with a car manufacturer and the deep pockets of sponsors to stay at the top. For a family-owned team like Williams, it gets harder to be a winner when you want to maintain your independence. In 2018 and 2019, Williams finished last in the Constructor's Championship, a massive fall from grace from the 1990s, when they were the team to beat.
In May 2020, after a massive financial loss and poor performances, Williams Racing was at risk of disappearing from Formula 1, so the team was put up for sale. A US-based capital venture purchased Williams Racing, the whole kit and kaboodle. The time had come for the family to sell up.
This weekend's Belgium Grand Prix, Williams driver, George Russell, put his race car on the grid's front row. I am hoping this is a good sign of the revival of this once great race team.
Williams Racing was started by Frank Williams and Patrick Head in 1977. Their first race entry as a constructor was the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix, and their first win was with Clay Regazzoni at the wheel of the FW07 at the 1979 British Grand Prix. With seven Driver's Championships and nine Constructor's Championships, they have been one of the most successful teams in modern Formula 1 history.
A roll-over car accident in 1986 rendered Frank a person with quadriplegia. From his wheelchair, Frank would return to the team after the accident and guide them through their most successful period, during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Since its inception, Frank and Patrick have owned the team. However, in recent years, the team has fallen on hard times. The costs of Formula 1 racing has become astronomical, and the successful organisations rely on an alliance with a car manufacturer and the deep pockets of sponsors to stay at the top. For a family-owned team like Williams, it gets harder to be a winner when you want to maintain your independence. In 2018 and 2019, Williams finished last in the Constructor's Championship, a massive fall from grace from the 1990s, when they were the team to beat.
In May 2020, after a massive financial loss and poor performances, Williams Racing was at risk of disappearing from Formula 1, so the team was put up for sale. A US-based capital venture purchased Williams Racing, the whole kit and kaboodle. The time had come for the family to sell up.
This weekend's Belgium Grand Prix, Williams driver, George Russell, put his race car on the grid's front row. I am hoping this is a good sign of the revival of this once great race team.