RIP Sir Frank Williams.

[exeterjeep]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59453378

Sir Frank Williams: Formula 1 team founder dies aged 79

[windymiller]

One of the greats in formula one !! 😒

[Bibs]

Very sad news. 

RIP Sir Frank.

[yeller77]

One of the pillars of F1. Godspeed Sir Frank, finally again free of the wheelchair.  😢

[MPx]

I got properly interested in F1 watching Alan Jones win the championship in the Saudia Williams and was a Williams fan thereafter.   Some phenomenal years, but such a shame to see them as back markers for the last few years - must have been hard for Frank to watch after all his success.

[jep]

Incredible man. Was in F1 for the love of racing, not the dosh or lifestyle. Was not an engineer, competitive driver or technician, just had a passion for the sport and was determined to be involved. 

He adored the bravery of the Grand Prix driver, something we all perhaps sometimes forget. He understood how absurd the sport was, particularly with Bernie at the helm but relished all the challenges the unique environment brought.

He kept Williams independent which was brave, the cost-caps of 2022 perhaps coming a few years too late to keep the firm with the family.

Thank you Frank. I doubt we will see your like again in F1. Much as I like Toto W and admire Christian H, I doubt either of them used a red telephone box as an office when the landlord repossessed the Williams premises for non-payment of rent.

Justin

 

[exeterjeep]

I suppose he was the last of the operating team family owners , Chapman ,McLaren, Tyrrell and some older teams as well, and of course Jordon. Although EJ is still living he dropped out of F1 some years ago, well before the Williams family left their team.

[jep]

Perhaps Tyrell similar to Williams, I don't know if Ken Tyrell had an engineering background. EJ amazing but I feel he was very much attracted by the money; I may be wrong.

McLaren different in my view. Bruce is almost under-appreciated for his talents: top driver (won Le Mans), top engineer (helped test develop all his cars plus GT40), top businessman and top bloke. Teddy then took the business on to new heights, then some lows and Ron took the company to the next level. I feel McLaren have had more incarnations and change of ownership in reality than Williams ever did with Sir Frank at the helm.

Where Frank was special, in my view, is in achieving success multiple times in F1. Dips came but he fought and came back. I don't think EJ had that breadth of desire or talent. Perhaps Ken Tyrell also only had one golden period. Colin of course did have numerous era highs but I feel Lotus was more corporate and had fingers in a lot of pies (or Mr Chapman did at least, a very restless and inspirational mind), whereas Frank was all about F1. Any business diversions were to pay to go racing in F1. 

Justin

 

 

[C8RKH]

He should be, and hopefully will be, remembered as an F1 legend, alongside the drivers that he had so much admiration for, and the drivers whose careers he supported and developed.

He had the fighting spirit to win, but also when needed had grace and class.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

The first GP I attended in person was won by a Williams: Nelson Piquet at the 1986 Italian GP at Monza. Piquet twice swept past Mansell in the sister car for a Williams one-two. Mansell whinged that his seat belt had come loose, but I don’t think this was ever confirmed. This was about 6 months after Frank’s crash, but the Team was still the dominant force in F1 and won the constructors’ championship that year by a country mile.