Williams family to retire from F1 after Monza

It is a very rich page of the Formula 1 which will be filmed this weekend. At the end of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix this Sunday, the family Williams will no longer be part of the eponymous team founded by Sir Frank in 1977, nor of the sport which allowed it to acquire its letters of nobility. 

The Monza event will mark the 739th and final Grand Prix with the Williams clan at the helm, the first dating back to the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama. 

In a pair of press releases sent this Thursday, Williams was informed that Sir Frank, who still occupies the role of team principal, and his daughter Claire, his deputy in charge of troops on the ground since 2013, were going to leave their positions after the Monza race. 

The double announcement comes on the heels of the sale of the team to the American investment company Dorilton Capital. Last weekend in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Claire Wiliams appeared annoyed to say the least at having to answer questions concerning her future. The deputy main team insisted that “ the store is running as usual ". She informed her pilots George Russell and Nicholas latifi this Thursday morning that she would leave her post Sunday evening.

« Now that the future of the team is assured, the timing seems opportune to withdraw from F1, said Claire Williams. We have been in the sport for over 4 decades and incredibly proud of our track record and heritage. We have always been there out of pure passion. This decision is not taken lightly.

It is with a heavy heart that I leave my role in the stable. I had held out hope of continuing for many more years to preserve the Williams family legacy for the next generation. However, the need to find investments earlier in the year due to a number of factors, most beyond our control, resulted in the sale to Dorilton Capital. 

My family has always put the stable and its members first and it was clearly the best thing to do. I am convinced that the new owners will do the same. I know we have found the right people to bring Williams back to the top of the grid. 

I have made the decision to withdraw from the team to allow Dorilton to begin a new cycle. It's not an easy choice but I think it's the best thing to do for the future of the team.

It has been a huge privilege to grow within the team and in this extraordinary environment that is F1. I loved every minute of my time at that level and will be forever grateful for the opportunities I was given. F1 is also an incredibly demanding sport and I want to see what else the world can throw at me. 

Above all, I want to spend time with my family. I would like to thank Dorilton for their support and understanding. I would also like to salute our fans who have remained loyal to us all these years, in good times and bad. The people at Williams are my family, they have kept me motivated all these years. I hope that the new chapter that opens will bring them the success they deserve. Finally, I would like to thank my father for everything he gave to the team, to the sport, and to our family ».

The withdrawal of the Williams family comes as the team recently signed the new Concorde Agreement, which will govern F1 between 2021 and 2025 and should make the sport more economically viable while offering tighter gaps on the track. This has been one of the main workhorses of his deputy team principal in recent years. 

« We fully respect the very tough decision made by Claire and the Williams family to step back from the stable and the company after obtaining new resources to secure their future., commented Matthew Savage, CEO of Dorilton Capital. (…)

Claire played an essential role in helping to define the contours of F1 of the future, one where competition will be fairer on a technical and financial level. This will help the team get back to the forefront. We are proud to continue racing under the Williams banner as an exciting new chapter begins ».

Williams has the 3rd most track record in the current field, behind Ferrari et McLaren, with 9 Manufacturers' titles, 7 Drivers' crowns, and 114 victories, 128 pole positions, and 133 fastest laps in a race.