Formula 1

End of an era for Williams family involvement after 43 years of racing

Motorsport Technology
03 Sep 2020
3 min read

The 2020 Italian Grand Prix will mark the end of an era for the famous Williams Racing team and the start of a new one, as the family steps aside following the recent change in ownership to Dorilton Capital.

One of the most successful teams in the sport, Williams has won 114 Grands Prix, nine Constructors’ and seven Drivers’ World Championships as a privateer outfit with drivers such as Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve creating the legend that is.

“With the future of the team now secured, this feels like the appropriate time for us to step away from the sport,” read a statement from Claire Williams OBE, Deputy Team Principal. “As a family, we have always prioritised Williams. We have demonstrated that by our recent actions with the Strategic Review process and we believe now is the right time to hand over the reins and give the new owners the opportunity to take the team into the future.

“We have been in this sport for more than four decades. We are incredibly proud of our track record and the legacy we leave behind. We have always been in it for the love of it, for the pure pleasure of going motor racing, so this is not a decision that we have taken lightly but after much reflection and as a family.

“On behalf of Frank and the Williams family, I would like to say how incredibly grateful and humbled we are for the support we have enjoyed over the years, from our friends in the paddock to the many fans around the world. But mostly, we would like to thank our team. People who have worked at Williams in the past and present. They are the true warriors of this team and have made it what it is and we wish them well. Formula One has been our life for so long and now it’s time for a new chapter in our lives to begin.”

Of course, it is not the end, but also an exciting new beginning for one of the sport’s longest standing and most successful teams, as investment from Dorilton Capital ensures its long-term future and hopefully further success ahead.

“We fully respect the very tough decision of Claire and the Williams family to step away from the team and the business after securing new resources for its future,” added Matthew Savage, Chairman of Dorilton Capital and Williams Grand Prix Engineering. “Claire’s achievement in sustaining Williams Racing’s heritage, relevance and commitment to innovation in a difficult environment since taking charge in 2013 has been nothing short of monumental.

“She has also been hugely instrumental in shaping a more level technical and financial playing field for F1, which will help to ensure the team’s return to the front of the grid in seasons to come. We are proud to carry the Williams name into the next exciting phase for the sport and we thank Sir Frank, Claire and the Williams family for the opportunity to be part of this great British brand.”

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