Sir Frank Williams, founder and former main owner of the Williams team and who opened the doors of Formula 1 to Jacques Villeneuve in 1996 has passed away. He was 79 years old.
Williams Racing executives announced the news on Sunday.
In an official statement, they said Williams was hospitalized on Friday, and passed away peacefully, surrounded by family members.
Villeneuve is one of seven drivers to have won a world title with the Williams team. He achieved the feat in 1997, in his second season in Formula 1. The previous year, Villeneuve had finished second.
Other drivers who won titles with Williams are Alan Jones (1980), Keke Rosberg (1982), Nelson Piquet (1987), Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993) and Damon Hill (1996).
The Williams team also won nine constructors’ championships, the last with Villeneuve, in 1997.
“This morning Claire Williams called to inform me of the very sad news that her beloved father, Sir Frank Williams, had passed away,” said Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 president.
“He was a true giant of our sport who overcame the toughest challenges in life and fought every day to win on and off the track. We have lost a Formula 1 family member who was much loved and respected and he will be sorely missed. His incredible accomplishments and personality will forever be etched in our sport. In these sad times, my thoughts are with the whole family and their friends. “
George Russell, the team’s current rider, remembered Williams as a “genuinely wonderful human being”.
Williams led his racing team from an empty carpet warehouse to the top of Formula 1, overseeing a grand total of 114 wins while becoming the longest-reigning team boss in the history of the sport.
Its drivers have accumulated 321 podiums and 128 leading positions.