‘A pioneer and icon of the sport’ - Tributes to F1 legend Sir Frank Williams
Williams,🌺 who founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1977 and led the team until its sale to US investors last year, died 💙on Sunday surrounded by his family.
Williams buil🌳t the team named after him into one 𒁃of the most successful in the sport. During his time at the helm, Williams claimed 114 grand prix victories and a total of 16 world championships.
Seven drivers' titles and nine constructors’ 🥀world championships were amassed as Williams dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s.
Following the announcement of Williams’s death, major paddock figures from F1 and motorsport ꦛpaid their res♒pects.
F1 CEO and pr💦esident Stefano Domenicali said: “He was a true giant of our sport that overcame the most difficult of challenges in lif✱e and battled every day to win on and off the track.
“We have lost a much loved and respected member of the F1 family and he will be 🐻hugely missed. His incredible achievements and personality will be with etched on our sport forever.”
Several took to social media to share their tributes. Below is just a selection of those who pa🎶id their condolences to Williams.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton)Today, we say goodbye t♓o the man who defined our team. Sir Frank was such a genuinely wonderful human bein🍸g and I’ll always remember the laughs we shared. He was more than a boss, he was a mentor and a friend to everybody who joined the Williams Racing family and so many others.
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63)
Very sad news. Sir Frank Williams leaves a lasting impression on the history of . He was a pioneer, an exceptional personality & an exemplary man. On behalf of the entire💎 Community, our thoughts are with his family, friends & . Rest in peace, my fr♎iend
— Jean Todt (@JeanTodt)
Goodbye Sir Frank… A truly inspirational human being whose passion for the sport was only surpassed by his tenacity.
— Karun Chandhok (@karunchandhok)
My deepest c♚ondolences to t𒉰he Williams family and everyone at the team at this time.
“T﷽he thoughts of myself and th🌱e Team are with Sir Frank's family and our friends at ” - Toto
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1)
RIP Sir Frank Williams. Such sad news A huge loss for our sport and our team. It’s been an honour to represent your name on the world stage and we will continue to push hard to take the team back up the꧙ grid
— Nicholas Latifi (@NicholasLatifi)
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas)
We have lost a true hero of our sport and an inspiration for so many bꦓeyond it. Sir Frank not only created a special F1 legacy but showed the power of human determinati🗹on to overcome huge adversity. Thoughts with his family and the Williams team.
— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO)
It's a sad day for our sport, Frank Williams will always be remembered as one of the heroes and icons.
— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez)
My thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his daughter, Claire Wil𓆉liams.
My racing family has always been Williams so can’t describe my sadness at hearing of the death of Frank. My boss, 💦friend and inspiration for many years RIP He had a smile when he was with his beloved cars and racing drivers This picture is how I want to remember him
— Ann Bradshaw (@AnnieBWansford)
We pay tribute to a great man who played a major role in the history of Formula 1.
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari)
Sir Frank was passionate about motorsport, a fierce and brave rival who led the team, that still bears his name, ꧃to so much success.
Rest In Peace Sir Frank. 🔴You will be missed. Thoughts and prayers with all 🅘the Williams family.
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55)
One of the symbols of leaves ﷺus. His history and his ♑legacy will be unforgettable.
— Antonio Giovinazzi (@Anto_Giovinazzi)
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of BRDC Vice President Sir Frank Williams CBE.
— BRDC (@BRDCSilverstone)
We will be forever thankful for Sir Frank’s passion & friendship.On behalf of the Club we send our thoughts to Sir Frank’s family & friends in this sad time.
Rest in peace Sir Frank
Rest in Peace, Sir Frank Williams!
— Nico Hülkenberg (@HulkHulkenberg)
His legacy will be forever part of F1 𓂃and I will never forget the moment in 2009 when this Man opened the door to F1 for me.
A true giant of motorsport and his legacy will live on for generations in F1
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP)
The whole MotoGP community sends its𓂃 deepest sympathies to Sir Frank’s fam🎀ily, friends and loved ones
My sentiments precisely. He had us fooled on a number of occasions. But woe betide the man who underestimated Sir Frank. Determination and tenacity personified. He has earned his eternal rest 1♈00 times over
— Damon Hill (@HillF1)
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