Sir Frank Williams’ former team announced that he died Sunday morning, after being admitted to the hospital on Friday.
Sir Frank Williams, who was the founder of Williams F1 and was also its former chief, has died at age 79.
Williams was admitted on Friday to the hospital and died Sunday morning.
Williams made the following statement in a statement “It is with great sadness that on behalf of the Williams family, the team can confirm the death of Sir Frank Williams CBE, Founder and Former Team Principal of Williams Racing, at the age of 79.
“Sir Frank, who was admitted to the hospital on Friday, died peacefully this morning, surrounded his family.
“Today we pay tribute to our much loved and inspirational figurehead. Frank will be sorely missed. We request that all friends and colleagues respect the Williams family’s wishes for privacy at this time.
“For those wishing to pay tribute, we ask that donations are made in place of gifts to the Spinal Injuries Association, alternatively we would welcome flowers to be placed at the entrance of the team’s headquarters in Grove, Oxfordshire. We will provide more information about the memorial service in due course.”
Williams founded Frank Williams Racing Cars in 1966 after a brief career as a driver and a mechanic.
In 1977, he announced the formation of Williams Grand Prix Engineering, which still compete in F1.
He acted as the team’s principal from its formation until September 2020.
Williams met wife Virginia Berry in 1967, and they married seven years later, remaining together until her death in 2013.
They had two sons, Jonathan and Jamie, and a daughter, Claire, who went on to become deputy team principal of Williams.
Williams used a wheelchair since a car accident in France in March 1968, which left him tetraplegic.
He was made a CBE in 1986 and received a knighthood in 1999.
