| What a life Frank Williams led. From humble beginnings, having to hide from the bank manager to stay in business, to winning nine Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championships, 114 Grands Prix and a well-deserved knighthood. As a child of the ’70s, I grew up as Williams Grand Prix Engineering was in its pomp. The race that truly got me hooked on F1, the 1983 Monaco Grand Prix, was won by Keke Rosberg who was quite brilliant that day in his nimble Cosworth-powered FW08C against the turbocars. With 17 wins and two titles already under its belt, my ‘favourite team’ status was assured, and I got to enjoy the glory years of Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve – who added five more drivers’ titles to its early champions Alan Jones and Rosberg. The times I got to meet Sir Frank were always cherished moments, and he was everything you’d expect him to be: straight to the point while answering questions, yet engaging company with amazing stories, always told with a twinkle in his eye. Even after the awful road accident that robbed him of the use of his limbs, he refused to allow those life-changing injuries to stop his team from competing at the highest echelon of the sport.
There will simply not be another team boss like him. By: Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief
Motorsport.com | 