[yco]

its not surprised to see such an announcement from Williams that is being sold really cause things were going downhill with Claire Williams in recent years already.. Williams name seems will stay as Williams but i dont think it ll be always like that.. so family owned Frans Williams' team somewhat come to an end and its sad eventually..

CW says:

“People who understand the sport and what it takes to be successful. People who respect the team’s legacy and will do everything to ensure it succeeds in the future. As a family we have always put our team first. Making the team successful again and protecting our people has been at the heart of this process from start.

“This may be the end of an era for Williams as a family owned team, but we know it is in good hands. The sale ensures the team’s survival but most importantly will provide a path to success. We are enormously grateful to Dorilton for the faith they have shown in our team and we look forward to working with them now. I would also like to thank the Williams Board and our advisers who have worked tirelessly over the past months to make this happen and our employees who have remained steadfastly loyal.”

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...OlHkmfGjo.html

[Admiral]

A great shame as I have been an avid supporter of Williams for many years. I do hope that they will keep the name, but I doubt it, whoever pays the cash is entitled to name it what they will

[M5Rick]

^^ It was always on the cards my friend,Claire and dad can now relax.

[yco]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

^^ It was always on the cards my friend,Claire and dad can now relax.

well yeah i agree.. Claire never looked like she is on top of things anyway and 1-2 time she confessed actually that if she is doing things right or she s such a person to handle such responsibility..

[David70]

I'm interested in hearing what the investment company bought it for and how they expect to turn a profit. Makes sense when you buy a team for your kid,you are a car manufacturer or even with Haas as the owner both promotes his brand and is directly involved in racing or even Red Bull where the largest benefit is promoting your prodcut but investment firms are normallly all about running the numbers and making an acceptable profit. Hard to make an F1 team a good investment with acceptable returns.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by yco

well yeah i agree.. Claire never looked like she is on top of things anyway and 1-2 time she confessed actually that if she is doing things right or she s such a person to handle such responsibility..

She was an innocent mermaid in a place of sharks and obviously dad can't help much.
Not connected but Monisha Kaltenborn,another woman who ran Sauber left as she had enough of under hand tactics, in that case a disagreement with how the team was run by the finance owners.

[243Racing]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

She was an innocent mermaid in a place of sharks and obviously dad can't help much.
Not connected but Monisha Kaltenborn,another woman who ran Sauber left as she had enough of under hand tactics, in that case a disagreement with how the team was run by the finance owners.

Both still did a better job than Binotto

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by BeastieBombRacing

Both still did a better job than Binotto

You sometimes wonder how Maranello choose someone,I'm sure they draw straws for the position

[243Racing]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

You sometimes wonder how Maranello choose someone,I'm sure they draw straws for the position

Whoever picks the little Rigatoni gets to run Scuderia Ferrari

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by BeastieBombRacing

Whoever picks the little Rigatoni gets to run Scuderia Ferrari

..and no doubt the free to run Ferrari and a nice little hire villa included in the package of their tenure.

[rcracin]

Originally Posted by David70

I'm interested in hearing what the investment company bought it for and how they expect to turn a profit. Makes sense when you buy a team for your kid,you are a car manufacturer or even with Haas as the owner both promotes his brand and is directly involved in racing or even Red Bull where the largest benefit is promoting your prodcut but investment firms are normallly all about running the numbers and making an acceptable profit. Hard to make an F1 team a good investment with acceptable returns.

Looks like $152m per the F1 website and the Williams family seeing $112m after debts paid.

[racerbruce]

Such an iconic F1 team with multiple WDC and Constructor championships....and the list of renowned F1 pilots that sat in the seats is just incredible.

Wishing Claire and Sir Frank all the best in the days/months/years ahead.

Drivers for Williams have included Australia's Alan Jones; Finland's Keke Rosberg; Britain's Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jenson Button; France's Alain Prost; Brazil's Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna; and Canada's Jacques Villeneuve. Each of these drivers, with the exception of Senna and Button, have captured one Drivers' title with the team. Of those who have won the championship with Williams, only Jones, Rosberg and Villeneuve actually defended their title while still with the team. Piquet moved to Lotus after winning the 1987 championship, Mansell moved to the American-based Indy Cars after winning the 1992 championship, Prost retired from racing after his 4th World Championship in 1993, while Hill moved to Arrows after winning in 1996. No driver who has won a drivers' title with Williams has managed to win a title again.

[yco]

Originally Posted by David70

I'm interested in hearing what the investment company bought it for and how they expect to turn a profit. Makes sense when you buy a team for your kid,you are a car manufacturer or even with Haas as the owner both promotes his brand and is directly involved in racing or even Red Bull where the largest benefit is promoting your prodcut but investment firms are normallly all about running the numbers and making an acceptable profit. Hard to make an F1 team a good investment with acceptable returns.

actually Williams is on rock bottom.. any progress will be more flashy and they can attract bigger sponsors etc. and the best part Williams team is being loved by almost all fans and people among the grid.. there is some opportunity looks a bit dark now but still they can profit nicely out of this..

[David70]

Originally Posted by yco

actually Williams is on rock bottom.. any progress will be more flashy and they can attract bigger sponsors etc. and the best part Williams team is being loved by almost all fans and people among the grid.. there is some opportunity looks a bit dark now but still they can profit nicely out of this..

Love by fans and big sponsors sounds good but trying to put a business plan together that translates this to required profit seems difficult in every racing serious. So many do it for many are in racing for different reasons than an investment company and their profit requirements. Very straight forward goals by investment companies and their bottom line doesn't include their children, love of racing or fan support. Everything is identified by current/future value, profit per year/future profit.

Them coming in 7th in the constructor points next year might be a huge improvement to their fans but the investment company will look at the dollars to judge improvement. With other professional sports teams I think they would rather generate profits than wins which is the reason they don't spend a lot of money on getting the best team. I live in Cincinnati and believe the Bengals goal is to be mediocre as this is how to maximize profits.

[yco]

it ll be the last race in Monza that Williams family will be on charge of the team..



“It is with a heavy heart that I am stepping away from my role with the team. I had hoped to continue my tenure long into the future and to preserve the Williams family’s legacy into the next generation,” said Claire.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...J3XR6oLDn.html ..

[David70]

I really doubt this - "And while the new owners were keen for Claire to stay on in her role and run the team on a day to day basis, she has decided to take the opportunity for a fresh start and take some time away from Formula 1."

If they really wanted her to stay it would have been part of the sale as it is extremely common for some parts of top mgmt. to stay on for another year or longer to transition to someone new.

[yco]

Originally Posted by David70

I really doubt this - "And while the new owners were keen for Claire to stay on in her role and run the team on a day to day basis, she has decided to take the opportunity for a fresh start and take some time away from Formula 1."

If they really wanted her to stay it would have been part of the sale as it is extremely common for some parts of top mgmt. to stay on for another year or longer to transition to someone new.

it wasnt Claire's job that she can pull from the beginning.. being related to Frank Williams doesnt mean you can manage thing well in the end..

[Maverik259]

Sad day. Just saw that Williams Family is completely stepping away from F1. I know they sold the team a few weeks ago but now they're completely out.

Just a sad day for the sport. So much history in that team. Haven't been much to watch as of late but they were Force to be reckoned with once.

[BwoodBMW]

yeah bummed to see it happen but they needed something. Course they were on was not sustainable.... would have been interesting to see how they did in the coming budget capped environment but they've been awful.

[dappercivility]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Sad day. Just saw that Williams Family is completely stepping away from F1. I know they sold the team a few weeks ago but now they're completely out.

Just a sad day for the sport. So much history in that team. Haven't been much to watch as of late but they were Force to be reckoned with once.

With covid 19 affecting many business owners, not surprised to see F1 teams that need to spend instance amounts of money to sponsor this very expensive sport pulling out during this period. Only the very toughest will survive.

[Greer]

Now, we just need to get an American driver in F1.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Greer

Now, we just need to get an American driver in F1.

Put me in coach!