Family F1 now a thing of the past after Williams exit

Family-run Formula 1 teams are sadly no more after Claire and Sir Frank Williams stepped back from the running of their team following the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

In what was once a sport rich with privateers and in-house entrants, there are now no family founded and operated teams on the Formula 1 grid. Deputy team principal Claire Williams stepped down at Monza to hand control to the new Williams team owner, the private investment firm Dorilton Capital.

The £133.5m deal with Dorilton ended Sir Frank’s control over the team after 43 years. His daughter Claire had been due to continue as team boss, but announced her decision to step down shortly before Monza.

Having run the team since 2013, she has now been replaced by ex-McLaren man Simon Roberts. Dorilton will continue racing under the Williams name.Claire signed off by waving driver Nicholas Latifi out of the garage at Monza.

She was later presented with a front wing assembly from Williams’ 2014 car, which Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas raced to second and third in Abu Dhabi that year, recording Williams’ last double podium.

Claire Williams said: “Dorilton wanted me to stay. This was my decision. The world changes and it has changed dramatically over the last few years in F1. All of the people have worked behind the scenes in order to keep our team alive and keep the fight as an independent team.

“I have no regrets, having made decisions that ensure we have retained that independence over the last few years.”