Never give up. It is a phrase that would best describe the story of the Williams team. For 30 years the team has faced obstacle after obstacle, but overcome each one on their way to becoming one of the most successful and most respected teams in Formula 1.
Williams before Williams F1
Williams F1 just celebrated their thirtieth anniversary but the story starts many years earlier. Frank Williams started out as a privateer entrant running a car for talented driver Piers Courage in 1966.
After the death of Courage in a De Tomaso, Frank nearly quit racing but carried on, running cars for a number of pay drivers. These were lean years of living hand to mouth for Williams and he eventually had to sell out to Canadian oil tycoon, Walter Wolf.
The passion for racing still burned strong and Frank returned to racing in 1977, partnered with a sharp young engineer, Patrick Head. The pair formed the foundation of the modern Williams team.
Williams to the front
Head quickly grasped the new science of ground effects and put the knowledge to good use in their first car. Patrick evolved the design in 1979 and the car won its first race in the hands of driver Clay Regazzoni.
The team built on their success and with the tough Alan Jones at the wheel, took the 1980 World Drivers Championship. Only internal squabbling between their drivers prevented the team from winning their second title in 81.
Tragedy for Frank
Turbo-charged engines became the must have powerplants of the eighties so Williams partnered with Honda. The team appeared ready to return to the top when they were about to face one of their greatest setbacks.
Retuning from a test of the new car in France, Frank lost control of his car and was gravely injured. Though alive, he was paralyzed and required many months of therapy.
In his absence the team narrowly lost the 1986 driver’s championship to McLaren but took the Constructors title. In 1987 despite the team winning both titles it lost its Honda engines to rivals McLaren and Lotus.
Williams endured its least competitive years while Frank sought out a competitive engine partner.
Back on Top
In 1990 Williams partnered with Renault. The French company was looking for a way back into F1. The two companies would build a lethal combination of car and engine that by 1992 was unbeatable. The team captured five team titles and four drivers’ championships together in the nineties.
Sadly the renaissance was darkened by the death of Ayrton Senna at the wheel of a Williams in 1994. The Brazilian driver had just joined the team when he crashed at Imola.
Trying to Recreate the Magic
Renault left once more at the end of 1997 but this time Frank Williams was prepared. He lured BMW to F1 for 2000 – a partnership that netted 10 wins. Surprisingly, the combination did not work on all levels and the German manufacturer became increasingly critical of the Williams team. In 2005 they left and bought the Sauber team, re-branding it BMW-Sauber.
With another setback facing the team, Williams once more dug in and got to work. The team purchased Cosworth engines before inking a deal to use Toyota engines in 2007 in exchange for cash and technical assistance.
Frank Williams, at 66, still oversees his team and travels to races. With a healthy portfolio of sponsors and future superstar, Nico Rosberg under contract, the team is making steady progress towards the front of the grid. Pitted against the might of the world’s automotive superpowers it is a challenge that Frank and his team relish.
References
Henry, Alan. Wheel to Wheel. Oseola, Motorbooks International, 1996.
Donaldson, Gerald. Formula 1 The Autobiography, London. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2002.
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