Dies at 79 years old Frank Williams, founder of multi-champion F1 team

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Briton Frank Williams, founder of the team that bears his name, one of the biggest in the history of F1 died this Sunday (28), at the age of 79.

“It is with great sadness that, on behalf of the Williams family, the team confirms the death of Sir Frank Williams, founder and former team chief of Williams Racing, at the age of 79,” the team reported on social media.

​The official profile of F1 also communicated and lamented the death of the founder of Williams.

“We feel the most immense and profound sadness at the passing of Sir Frank Williams. His life was driven by a passion for motorsport; his legacy is immeasurable and he will be part of F1 forever. Meeting him was an inspiration and a privilege. He will leave a lot, I miss you very much”, published the official account of the category.

The Englishman was a driver and mechanic before founding Frank Williams Racing Cars in 1966, initially competing in F2 and F3. It entered F1 in 1969. And it was from the 1980s onwards that the team built its reputation as one of the strongest teams in the category, winning nine constructors’ titles (1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997).

Williams also took seven drivers to the title: Alan Jones (1980), Keke Rosberg (1982), Nelson Piquet (1987), Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993), Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997) .

Frank has been moving in a wheelchair since 1986 due to an automobile accident in France that left him paralyzed.

In 2012, he left the position of team leader at Williams, replaced by his daughter, Claire. Last year, upon concluding the sale of the company to the Dorilton Capital investment group, the family lost its relationship with the management of the team.

In addition to Nelson Piquet, F1 champion in 1987, six other Brazilian drivers passed through Williams: Ayrton Senna (1994), Antonio Pizzonia (2004 and 2005), Rubens Barrichello (2010 and 2011), Bruno Senna (2012) and Felipe Massa ( 2014 to 2017).

It was while defending the team that Senna suffered the accident that led to his death, in 1994, at the GP in Imola, Italy.

“It was a sad day for Williams, for McLaren, for F1 and for Brazil. It was one of the worst days in F1 history,” Frank Williams told the 1999 sheet.

“Ayrton had an unusual intellect, not just for running, but for business, for life and for philosophy. A fascinating person.”

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