Claire Williams

Last updated

Claire Williams
OBE
FoS20162016 0626 105618AB (27888648396).jpg
Williams in 2016
Born
Claire Victoria Williams

(1976-07-21) 21 July 1976 (age 47)
Windsor, Berkshire, England
Alma mater Newcastle University
OccupationDeputy team principal of Williams Racing (2013–2020)
Spouse
Marc Harris
​
(m. 2018)​
Children1
Parent

Claire Victoria Williams [1] OBE (born 21 July 1976) is a British former motorsport executive who was the deputy team principal of the Williams Formula One racing team from 2013 to 2020. [2] [3] [4] She is one of only two women to have ever managed teams in Formula One. [5] In 2023, she became a brand ambassador for WAE Technologies, an R&D off-shoot of the racing team. [6]

Contents

Early life

Claire Williams was born in 1976 in Windsor, Berkshire. She is the daughter of Sir Frank Williams and Lady Virginia Williams. [7] She graduated from Newcastle University in 1999 with a degree in politics. [8]

Career

After graduation, Williams became a press officer for the Silverstone racing circuit. In 2002, she joined the Williams F1 team as a Communications Officer and became Head of Communications in 2010. In March 2011, she took on the position of Head of Investor Relations to supplement her role in the communications team, playing a lead role as Williams moved from private to public ownership through listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2011. [9] In 2012, she was promoted to Director of Marketing & Communications. When Frank Williams stepped down in March 2012, Claire became the Williams family representative on the board. [10] In March 2013, she was appointed deputy team principal of the Williams F1 racing team. [3] [11] In this role, she was de facto team boss and assumed the day-to-day running of the team from her father. [12] [13]

Taking over after some of the worst years in the team's history, Williams replaced the race drivers, signing Felipe Massa alongside Valtteri Bottas and restructuring the engineering department. [14] [15] [16] [17] The team also switched to Mercedes engines and became a test-bed for the development of hybrid technology in engines and kinetic energy recovery systems, known as KERS. [18] [19] [20] Williams also increased the team's racing budget by securing profitable corporate sponsorships, factors that helped the team to somewhat of a renaissance between 2014 and 2017, when it finished third twice and then fifth twice. [21] [22]

Under her leadership, Williams F1 launched initiatives guiding students into engineering careers, redeveloped the team's work with its official charity, the Spinal Injuries Association, and supported F1's sustainability strategy through the expansion of WAE Technologies. [23] [24] [25] George Russell thanked her for giving him his F1 break when he changed to Mercedes. [26]

A keen advocate for greater diversity and inclusion within her team and across the sport, Williams wanted to use her position to change attitudes within motor racing, and to bring more women into motorsport and engineering. [27] [28] She appointed female drivers Susie Wolff and Jamie Chadwick to development roles, set up a female ambassadors in schools initiative, supported the UK government's Women in Innovation scheme, created workplace opportunities for minority groups, promoted STEM subjects for female students and increased the proportion of women at Williams to 17.6%, the highest in the F1 paddock. [29] [30] [28] [31] She was also a patron of F1 in Schools and an ambassador for Dare to be Different. [32] [33]

Williams was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Formula 1 racing in the 2016 Birthday Honours. [34]

Faced with the economic impact of the pandemic plus commercial terms that increasingly favoured the big teams, Williams was forced to put the team up for sale in order to secure its future, subsequently selling to private investment firm Dorilton in August 2020. [12] [35] On 3 September 2020, Williams announced she was resigning as deputy team principal of the Williams team after the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. [4] Before the race, at the Williams motorhome, she was given the front wing of a Williams FW36 as a souvenir. [36]

Personal life

On 5 April 2017, Williams announced that she was pregnant with her first child, a boy. [37] She gave birth to her son in October 2017. [38] In January 2018, Williams announced her marriage to Marc Harris. [39]

Related Research Articles

Formula One, commonly known as Formula 1 or F1, is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the world's premier forms of racing since its inaugural running in 1950. The word formula in the name refers to the set of rules all participants' cars must follow. A Formula One season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix. Grands Prix take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

McLaren Racing Limited is a British motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. McLaren is best known as a Formula One chassis constructor, the second oldest active team and the second most successful Formula One team after Ferrari, having won 183 races, 12 Drivers' Championships and 8 Constructors' Championships. McLaren also has a history of competing in American open wheel racing, as both an entrant and a chassis constructor, and has won the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) sports car racing championship. The team is a subsidiary of the McLaren Group, which owns a majority of the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williams Grand Prix Engineering</span> British Formula One motor racing team and constructor

Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, currently racing in Formula One as Williams Racing, is a British Formula One team and constructor. It was founded by Sir Frank Williams (1942–2021) and Sir Patrick Head. The team was formed in 1977 after Frank Williams's earlier unsuccessful F1 operation: Frank Williams Racing Cars. The team is based in Grove, Oxfordshire, on a 60-acre (24 ha) site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Brawn</span> British automotive engineer (born 1954)

Ross James Brawn is a British Formula One managing director, motor sports and technical director. He is a former motorsport engineer and Formula One team principal, and has worked for a number of Formula One teams. Teams with Brawn in an essential role have won eight constructors' championships and eight drivers' championships in total. Serving as the technical director of the championship-winning Benetton and Ferrari teams, he earned fame as the "mastermind" behind Michael Schumacher's seven world championship titles. He took a sabbatical in 2007 and returned to F1 for the 2008 season as team principal of Honda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Williams (Formula One)</span> Founder of Williams Grand Prix Engineering (1942–2021)

Sir Francis Owen Garbett Williams was a British businessman, racing car driver, and the founder of the Williams Formula One team. He was the team principal from its foundation in 1977 until 2020. During that period, the team won nine constructors' championships and seven drivers' championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauber Motorsport</span> Swiss Motorsport engineering company

Sauber Motorsport AG is a Swiss motorsport engineering company. It was founded in 1970 by Peter Sauber, who progressed through hillclimbing and the World Sportscar Championship to reach Formula One in 1993. Sauber operated under their own name from 1993 until 2005 and from 2011 until 2018. They were known as BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2010 and as Alfa Romeo F1 Team from 2019 to 2023 in a partnership deal with BMW and Alfa Romeo respectively. Sauber returned in 2024 as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, and is set to be the Audi works team from 2026 onwards, with the German outfit planning to acquire the Swiss team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruno Senna</span> Brazilian racing driver (born 1983)

Bruno Senna Lalli is a Brazilian professional racing driver. He is the nephew of the late Ayrton Senna, three-time Formula One world champion. He is also the first driver to win a race in every class in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and was the 2017 WEC world champion in the LMP2 class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susie Wolff</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Suzanne Wolff is a Scottish former professional racing driver and current managing director of F1 Academy.

James Key is a British engineer who has worked in Formula One. He is currently the technical director of Stake F1 Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toto Wolff</span> Austrian racing driver and F1 team principal (born 1972)

Torger Christian "Toto" Wolff is an Austrian billionaire motorsport executive, investor and former racing driver. He holds a 33% stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and is Team Principal and CEO of the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Éric Boullier</span> French engineer and manager

Éric René Boullier is a French motor racing engineer and manager. He was the racing director of the McLaren F1 Team from 2014 to 2018. During the 2010 to 2013 seasons, he was the team principal of Lotus F1, and was vice chairman of Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) until it was disbanded after six years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Parr</span> British businessman

Adam Parr is a British businessman known for his work in various fields including Formula 1 and investment to NGOs. He is the former CEO and chairman of Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC, from November 2006 until 30 March 2012. Parr began his career working for BZW and moved to Rio Tinto before studying and practising public law. He later returned to Rio Tinto as assistant to the Chief Executive and chairman before being appointed CEO of Williams F1 in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula One drivers from Spain</span> Group of Formula One drivers who competed as Spanish

There have been fifteen Formula One drivers from Spain, the most successful of them being Fernando Alonso who won the World Drivers' Championship twice. Alonso is the only Spanish champion and one of only two Spanish drivers to win a Grand Prix, the other being Carlos Sainz Jr. Two other Spanish drivers have achieved a podium with Pedro de la Rosa and Alfonso de Portago having taken one a piece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyril Abiteboul</span> French motor racing engineer and manager

Cyril François Roger Abiteboul is a French motor racing engineer and manager. He has served as the team principal of Hyundai Motorsport since 2023. From 2013 to 2014 he was the team principal of Caterham Formula One team, and was the managing director of the Renault F1 Team from 2014 to 2020.

Steve Nielsen is a British engineer working in Formula One motor racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Stroll</span> Canadian and Belgian racing driver (born 1998)

Lance Strulovitch, better known as Lance Stroll, is a Canadian and Belgian racing driver competing under the Canadian flag in Formula One. He has driven for Aston Martin since 2021, having previously driven for Williams and Racing Point. He was Italian F4 champion in 2014, Toyota Racing Series champion in 2015, and 2016 FIA European Formula 3 champion. He was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2010 to 2015. He achieved his first podium finish, a 3rd place, at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, becoming the second-youngest driver to finish an F1 race on the podium and the youngest to do so during his rookie season. At the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, Stroll took his first pole position in Formula One. Stroll also competed in endurance racing, taking part in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2016 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Russell (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1998)

George William Russell is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Mercedes. He previously raced for Williams from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frédéric Vasseur</span> French team principal of Scuderia Ferrari (born 1968)

Frédéric Vasseur is a French motorsport engineer and manager with a long career managing Formula-series teams. He is currently the team principal and general manager of Scuderia Ferrari, and was previously the managing director, CEO, and team principal of the Switzerland-based Alfa Romeo Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aston Martin in Formula One</span> Formula One activities of Aston Martin

Aston Martin is a British car manufacturer that has participated in Formula One in various forms and is currently represented by a team named as Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team. The company first participated in Formula One during the 1959 season, where they debuted the DBR4 chassis using their own engine, but it failed to score any points. They continued to perform poorly through the 1960 season, once again failing to score any points. As a result, Aston Martin decided to leave Formula One after 1960.

References

  1. ↑ "Italian Grand Prix". Formula One Pre-Qualifying. 5 September 2020. Sky Sports F1.
  2. ↑ "Our People Claire Williams". Williams Grand Prix Engineering. 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 Ian Parkes (27 March 2013). "Frank Williams promotes daughter Claire to deputy team principal at F1 team". The Independent. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Williams family to step aside from running of the team after Italian GP". Formula1.com. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Claire Williams OBE appointed as Brand Ambassador for WAE Technologies - Business & Innovation Magazine". 16 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Claire Williams returns to the family business". Motor Sport Magazine. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "My Secret Life: Claire Williams, 36, Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal". The Independent. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Charlie Cooper (20 April 2013). "My Secret Life: Claire Williams, 36, Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal". The Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Getting to know: Claire Williams OBE". Salracing. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Andrew Benson (2 March 2012). "Sir Frank Williams steps down from the Williams team board". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Andrew Benson (28 March 2013). "Williams names daughter Claire deputy team principal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  12. 1 2 "How Claire Williams's F1 era should be remembered". The Race. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. ↑ formula1.com (17 May 2013). "Claire Williams Q & A:I won't give up until we're back". formula1.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Williams not worried by £42.5m loss". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "Wolff to drive in F1 race practices". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "Williams relief ahead of new F1 season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. ↑ Richards, Giles (25 July 2015). "Claire Williams targets wins and world title as F1 team sense sunnier future". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Claire Williams is back at Williams - but not the F1 team". The Race. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Can technology take Williams to the front of the F1 grid?". BBC News. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  20. ↑ Ruddick, Graham (16 November 2015). "F1 contribution to UK economy is underrated, says Williams boss". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Williams relief ahead of new F1 season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "Williams up for sale after £13m loss". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "Williams launch new engineering academy". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Spinal Injuries Association - Official Charity of Williams Racing". SIA. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  25. ↑ "Claire Williams OBE appointed as Brand Ambassador for WAE Technologies - Business & Innovation Magazine". 16 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  26. ↑ Cary, Tom (8 September 2021). "The boy who would be king: Claire Williams on how George Russell is 'F1 world champion in waiting'". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Williams decline 'not because I am a mum'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  28. 1 2 Card, Jon (24 March 2017). "F1's Claire Williams on resilience, managing expectations and losing top talent". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  29. ↑ "Team sold, Williams family to leave F1 after Italian GP". Reuters. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  30. ↑ Line, Along the Racing (6 March 2022). "Claire Williams: An Inspiring and Uplifting Figure in F1's History". Along the Racing Line. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  31. ↑ Brown, Oliver (25 May 2019). "Exclusive: Claire Williams will keep battling to upset F1's male-dominated world". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  32. ↑ "Claire Williams joins F1 in Schools". Pitpass. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  33. ↑ Butterworth, Emma (11 January 2021). "Inspirational Women in Motorsport: Claire Williams". FormulaNerds.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  34. ↑ "No. 61608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B15.
  35. ↑ "Williams F1 racing team sold to US-based investment firm Dorilton Capital". Sky News. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  36. ↑ "Claire Williams gifted nose and front wing assembly from 2014 car as family bows out of F1 | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  37. ↑ WILLIAMS RACING [@WilliamsRacing] (5 April 2017). "We have a very special congratulations today……!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ↑ "F1: Claire Williams gives birth to a boy". www.crash.net. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  39. ↑ WILLIAMS RACING [@WilliamsRacing] (20 January 2018). "Congratulations to Claire & Marc..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.