With sixteen world titles between 1980 and 1997, nine among manufacturers and seven among drivers, Williams is one of the most awarded teams in the premier class of motorsport.

Legends like Nelson Piquet (1987), Nigel Mansell (1992) and Alain Prost (1993) have been titled with her.

It is also the symbol of an era: that of the "garage owners", these independents who started by assembling their cars in small garages before reaching the heights.

Sir Frank, who had been quadriplegic since a car accident in March 1986, entered his first single-seaters in the world championship in 1969, first by preparing chassis for other brands and then by designing his own F1 within his private structure.

"I am unable to explain the reason for this passion, but I love racing cars, the noise, the vibrations, the smell, the danger," he confided to the French daily Liberation in 1997.

In 1975, he entered the World Cup in his own name, with "Frank Williams Racing Cars", but the team came under the control of its patron, the Canadian billionaire Walter Wolf, in 1977.

Success story

Suddenly, Frank Williams started again from zero, creating with his compatriot Patrick Head "Williams Grand Prix Engineering", entered in GP from 1978.

Frank Williams and members of his team in Sepan, Malaysia, March 16, 2001 Emmanuel DUNAND AFP / Archives

First victory in 1979 at Silverstone, first constructors 'and drivers' world titles in 1980. It was the beginning of a "success story" for this enthusiast of Napoleonic battles, technology and strategy.

We will remember the white Williams FW07s from 1980, which carried the colors of the Saudia airline.

Because Frank Williams, visionary, knew before the others to convince the kings of oil that F1 was a judicious way to spend its money.

The years 1986 and 1987, another blessed period with Honda as an engine manufacturer and the Nelson Piquet - Nigel Mansell pair at the wheel, Williams saw her partly in a hospital bed after her car accident after returning from a test session on the Castellet circuit.

The very athletic team boss, father of three, finds himself quadriplegic at 43 years old.

He will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Demanding in the extreme

Then there is the prolific partnership with Renault (1989-1997), its procession of victories (63 out of 144) and world titles (9 out of 16).

There is also the drama of May 1994, when the Brazilian Ayrton Senna is killed in Imola at the wheel of a Williams-Renault.

A shock for Sir Frank, and a reminiscence of the death of his friend Piers Courage in 1970, at the Dutch GP, in a single-seater he had prepared.

Known to be cold, hard, demanding in the extreme with himself and with his employees, including pilots, Frank Williams does not let these successive tragedies put him to the ground.

Little subject to regret, he stayed the course in F1 until 2013, when he handed over control of the liner to his daughter Claire ... who would however have to be content with her father's title of assistant team principal.

Williams, which grew into a modern, publicly traded company providing technology and engineering services in industries as diverse as automotive, aerospace, defense and energy, will survive him.

Especially since, in sporting and financial difficulties, it changed hands in 2020, sold to the American investment fund Dorilton Capital.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 6 therefore saw the team's last participation under his family management.

© 2021 AFP