Claire Williams stepping down
Discussion
"Williams Racing’s Deputy Team Principal, Claire Williams is to step down from her role with the team following the conclusion of the Italian Grand Prix this weekend."
https://www.williamsf1.com/news/2020/09/claire-wil...
Sounds more like Dorilton have asked her to go. But have jazzed it up to make it sounds like she came to the decision
https://www.williamsf1.com/news/2020/09/williams-r...
https://www.williamsf1.com/news/2020/09/claire-wil...
Sounds more like Dorilton have asked her to go. But have jazzed it up to make it sounds like she came to the decision
https://www.williamsf1.com/news/2020/09/williams-r...
Edited by Jordan210 on Thursday 3rd September 12:11
Harry H said:
Amazed she lasted as long as she did. Suppose it helps if daddy owns the team.
As you say, jumped before pushed.
I can imagine she must have done - it would normally take several months for new owners to evaluate what/who was or was not working out in the best interests of the business...As you say, jumped before pushed.
Can't say I blame her quite honestly. It would break me to work for a firm I used to control - which between the two of them her and her father did.
Happened sooner than I thought but overall... anyone actually surprised by this?
Hopefully to be replaced by someone with engineering and racing experience, rather than marketing and PR.
Claire is a nice lady but so clearly out of her depth running the team. She did good work with the Women in Motorsport campaign, maybe she can spend more time with that - and the £50m cheque the family just received.
Claire is a nice lady but so clearly out of her depth running the team. She did good work with the Women in Motorsport campaign, maybe she can spend more time with that - and the £50m cheque the family just received.
That's no real surprise. Despite seeming a bit out of her depth at times, Claire did well to keep the team alive given the challenges she faced but the team now needs new management to move forward.
It is good to see that family pride has not got in the way of practicality, although probably 2 or 3 years later than needed in my view.
It is good to see that family pride has not got in the way of practicality, although probably 2 or 3 years later than needed in my view.
Sad that so many people are so massively critical, from an armchair miles from F1.
Claire is just yet another in a long string of people who couldn't keep a team at the top - alongside other people like Peter Sauber, Alain Prost, Ron Dennis, Tom Walkinshaw, etc etc etc.
F1 is brutal. Hell, Ferrari, the best funded team on the grid can't reliably get out of Q1. Williams plight at the back of the rid doesn't prove that Claire Williams is some sort of failure, it merely shows she's not the best in the world, miraculously able to compete with teams with way more budget. They've had car woes, but so have Sauber. She led the show to a sale exit, instead of going to financial ruin,shafting various employees and suppliers with unpaid bills - which is a legacy that an awful lot of F1 team principles can't claim to have.
Claire is just yet another in a long string of people who couldn't keep a team at the top - alongside other people like Peter Sauber, Alain Prost, Ron Dennis, Tom Walkinshaw, etc etc etc.
F1 is brutal. Hell, Ferrari, the best funded team on the grid can't reliably get out of Q1. Williams plight at the back of the rid doesn't prove that Claire Williams is some sort of failure, it merely shows she's not the best in the world, miraculously able to compete with teams with way more budget. They've had car woes, but so have Sauber. She led the show to a sale exit, instead of going to financial ruin,shafting various employees and suppliers with unpaid bills - which is a legacy that an awful lot of F1 team principles can't claim to have.
Harry H said:
Amazed she lasted as long as she did. Suppose it helps if daddy owns the team.
As you say, jumped before pushed.
Surely, as the Williams family were selling the team under specific terms, they may have just brought up the topic of Ms Williams ongoing role in the team post sale and either agreed that she goes or contractually agreed her ongoing management role going forward. I can't imagine for a minute, with this being her full time day job and as a key member of the family/racing team, this was not dealt with in the sale negotiations.As you say, jumped before pushed.
Edited by Mark V GTD on Friday 4th September 10:52
ash73 said:
crossle said:
The new challenge that Toto Wolff might be looking for perhaps?
I was wondering the same. Although turning round Ferrari would also be interesting.amongst all this talk of American corporations people seem to be forgetting that Dorliton invests on behalf of one family and is actually quite a small company in reality. It's not like some faceless giant worth billions has bought the business and if you buy into who is actually behind the money (not Bernie) then it's still in British hands ultimately with strong motorsport connections.
Some Gump said:
She led the show to a sale exit, instead of going to financial ruin, shafting various employees and suppliers with unpaid bills - which is a legacy that an awful lot of F1 team principles can't claim to have.
I suggest you might want to read up a bit on the history of the Williams team.I imagine that she realises that dealing with new team owners on a daily basis is very different to dealing with team sponsors who you can at least say "no" to. So not having the last say in matters made it a very easy decision to make.
Anyone who has run a business that's struggling knows you can't switch off 24/7 so she can now. She deserves it.
Anyone who has run a business that's struggling knows you can't switch off 24/7 so she can now. She deserves it.
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