Saudi Arabian GP: Who is Sir Frank Williams – The Man Being Given a Special Tribute by F1?

The F1 community paid their respects to Sir Frank Williams following his demise earlier this week. He was the longest-serving team principal in the history of the sport. An inspiration to many, he was a true racer who was driven by a burning will to win. More so, he mentored some of the greatest names in the sport, leaving behind an unmatchable legacy.

The Williams F1 team will pay a special tribute to Sir Frank in the upcoming weekend race in Jeddah. Although the team was sold last year by the Williams family to their new owners Dorilton Capital, they continue to value Sir Frank’s legacy in the team.

A special tribute from Williams to Williams

Sir Frank co-founded the eponymous team in 1977, which has subsequently won 9 constructors’ and 7 drivers’ championships. However, he has not been actively involved with the sport for the last few years owing to his age and health concerns. The Williams team still derives their motivation from Sir Frank and his passion for the sport.

The team will compete in Saudi Arabia upcoming weekend with stickers commemorating Sir Frank imprinted on the two cars. In addition to that, all the team personnel will wear black armbands throughout the weekend. Formula 1 will pay a separate tribute to Sir Frank during the race weekend as well.

Sir Frank Williams: The man and the legacy

Sir Frank is a name that the F1 community takes with a lot of pride and respect. His vigor, his passion for the sport, and his infectious smile are something the paddock will surely miss. He was born in South Shields on 16 April 1942. He developed a passion for racing during his years in boarding school in Scotland. Following that, he tried his luck in the new F3 category in 1964 but financial constraints made things difficult for him.

However, destiny had different plans for him. In 1968 he ran an F2 Brabham for Courage under the Frank Williams Racing Cars banner. After initial success, he entered Grand Prix racing the following year. After a series of disappointments, Sir Frank finally got a hefty sum from Saudia Airlines(his connection with Saudi Arabia) and he fielded a new car for the 1977 season.

The Williams team got its first big break in 1980 when Alan Jones won the WDC. Sir Frank fielded drivers like Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Nelson Piquet, and Alain Prost who won a championship with Williams. The team went on to win 114 races, the last one coming at the 2012 Spanish GP.

In 1986, Sir Frank Williams became a quadriplegic after being involved in a road traffic accident and would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Sir Frank left a rich legacy in the sport and memories that the F1 fraternity will cherish for times to come.

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