Sir Frank Williams has died at the age of 79. He founded the Williams F1 team almost 50 years ago in 1977. Between 1980 and 1997, Williams won seven driver’s championships and nine constructor’s championships. Sir Frank Williams turned his underdog F1 team into one of the most successful F1 teams on the grid. Many hugely successful drivers raced in a Williams car, such as Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Alan Jones, and many more.
One of the most famous Williams stories occurred in 1986. Sir Frank Williams had just suffered a serious car crash, which left him tetraplegic. Despite that immense hurdle, Williams still won the constructor’s championship in the same year and the year following.
Sir Frank Williams was even knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999, due to his incredible achievements in motorsports. Williams was widely recognized as the longest-serving and most successful team principal in the history of F1.
The world of F1 was undoubtedly heart-broken after hearing the news of Williams’ death. The current championship contender, Lewis Hamilton stated that “Sir Frank Williams was one of the kindest people I had the pleasure of meeting in this sport. What he achieved is something truly special. Until his last days I know he remained a racer and a fighter at heart. His legacy will live on forever.”
Sir Frank Williams won’t be forgotten for his incredible achievements. As one of the most important and respected figures in F1, there is no doubt that he has established himself as a legend in the sport.
Image Source: ESPN
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