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Frank Williams, the founder and former boss of the team, named after him and ranked as one of the most dominant and successful teams in F1 history, died on Sunday at the age of 79. ..
Former rival Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, chief executive officer of sports, paid tribute to the British and said the F1 family had lost “a highly loved and respected member.”
“He was the true giant of our sport and fought every day to overcome the most difficult challenges of his life and win on and off the track,” the Italian said in a statement.
“His incredible achievements and personality will be imprinted on our sport forever.”
Williams, 43, was paralyzed in 1986 since the rental car crashed while speeding from the Lucastele circuit in southern France, where the team was testing.
One of the longest-lived quadriplegic, he responded to physical obstacles by making the team more successful than ever while watching from the wheelchair in the team garage.
“As I see, I had a wonderful 40 years of some kind of life,” he told his late wife Ginny after the accident. “Now I have another 40 years of different kinds of life.”
In 2012, he handed over the day-to-day management of the team to his daughter Claire. Although she was always the official Vice-Principal.
He was hospitalized on Friday and the UK-based team said, “I died peacefully this morning, surrounded by my family.”
Williams was sold to US-based Drillton Capital last year and the family is no longer involved.
Under his leadership, the team has won nine Constructors’Champions and seven Drivers’ titles. Most recently, he won the Jacques Villeneuve in Canada in 1997 and won the 114th Grand Prix in 2012.
Only Ferrari has won more constructor titles.
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Australia’s Alan Jones won the first drivers’ title at Williams in 1980, followed by Finland’s Keke Rosberg in 1982.
Brazil’s Nelson Piquet won the team’s third title in 1987, and Britain’s Nigel Mansell was one of his 1st in 1992, before Frenchman Alain Prost choked the fourth in his career in 1993. I celebrated one.
After the death of triple champion Ayrton Senna at Imola’s Williams in 1994, Damon Hill got the team on track and won the title in 1996, before Bill Neuve completed the list.
“Sir Frank has given me such an opportunity in my lifetime, so I am grateful to him forever,” Hill said. “He is a very important person in my career and has made a great contribution to our sport.
“His record will last for a very long time. There will be no other individual team owner or team founder,” Hill told Sky Sports. “Probably the only person I can compare to him is Enzo Ferrari.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was honored to call Williams a friend.
“What he achieved in this sport is really special. Until his last day, I know he remained a racer and fighter in his heart. I told this guy With the utmost respect and affection, his legacy will last forever, “said the Mercedes driver.
Williams participated in the sport in 1969, providing Brabham for fellow Piers Courage to participate in the race, and in 1977 founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering with co-founder Patrick Head.
In 1992, a highly innovative car designed by Adrian Newey, Williams won 10 out of 16 races. In 1996, they won 12 of 16.
By Rohith Nair and Alan Baldwin
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