Williams F1 - FW to move back
Williams F1 - FW to move back
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Discussion

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

49,704 posts

277 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/07/frank-willia...
Frank Williams is one of the greats of F1. The longest serving team manager, and by some distance. He and Patrick Head started the team in 1977.

The end of an era.

stuttgartmetal

8,152 posts

245 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Patrick Head still involved as ever.

I saw him in 2008 at Barcelona, he looked pretty tired then.

paul garmin

10 posts

203 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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All the best to Frank - heres a man that sets the highest example - a career of great achievements despite his accident

Eric Mc

125,609 posts

294 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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At 67 he should be thinking of stepping back a bit - with or without his medical problems.

I only wish BE did the same.

RedexR

1,861 posts

243 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Frank really has earned the right to step down , he is a total genius and has given F1 something very special over the years , so many different stages of development and then champions in their time in F1. We still yearn for their return to the top , hopefully sooner rather than later.


anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
quotequote all
Derek Smith said:
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/07/frank-willia...
Frank Williams is one of the greats of F1. The longest serving team manager, and by some distance. He and Patrick Head started the team in 1977.

The end of an era.
Sort of, Frank and Patrick started Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1977, but prior to that Frank ran Frank Williams Racing Cars running in F1 from 1969 to 1975 with customer cars, then sold the team to, but acted as team manager for Walter Wolf in 76 with the FW05 (which is basically a Hesketh 308C), then left Wolf to start up again. So in reality he goes a lot further back than WGPE with regards to F1 management.

I've always admired Frank and Patrick, proper racing people.

heebeegeetee

30,138 posts

277 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
quotequote all
That shot we saw of him in the pit today, was that Virginia, his ex(?) wife with him?

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

49,704 posts

277 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
quotequote all
Hi, John.

I meant managing one team. People go on (Ferrari people in the main) about how other teams have been in F1 longer but Williams is the same team in essence as it was in 1977. Ferrari and McLaren have had major reorganisations during which they became, in reality, different teams.

Ron Dennis took over McLaren and made it MP4 so is much younger than Williams. I've had more changes of underwear than Ferrari have had managers, but only just.

I know FW leaves Patrick Head but it won't be the same.

F1 will obviously continue though. Ken Tyrrell left with hardly a ripple. Brabham had a sort of slow death. Lotus was a bit different but not that much. I hate to say it but F1 will go on even without Ferrari and McLaren.

It's sad. I have the feeling there's a bit more to this than just moving aside (steps back is the headline on James Allen's blog. Poor choice of phrase). He's been one of the stalwarts. During the 80s despite them beating 'my' team, McLaren, as often as they were beaten themselves, it didn't seem to matter.

I remember seeing Alan Jones racing the Williams. He seemed totally at one with the car, more so than even Schumacher and the Ferrari. I remember seeing him going round one corner (maybe Club), either in qually or the actual race, and it seeming as if the car was going slower than everyone else.

Great days for Williams.

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
quotequote all
I dont see this as a sad day, Frank will be proud to have such a great legacy and has been able to pass the team on to people who can ensure it survives, thats something to celebrate.

DJC

23,563 posts

265 months

Saturday 10th July 2010
quotequote all
Derek Smith said:
Hi, John.

I meant managing one team. People go on (Ferrari people in the main) about how other teams have been in F1 longer but Williams is the same team in essence as it was in 1977. Ferrari and McLaren have had major reorganisations during which they became, in reality, different teams.

Ron Dennis took over McLaren and made it MP4 so is much younger than Williams. I've had more changes of underwear than Ferrari have had managers, but only just.

I know FW leaves Patrick Head but it won't be the same.

F1 will obviously continue though. Ken Tyrrell left with hardly a ripple. Brabham had a sort of slow death. Lotus was a bit different but not that much. I hate to say it but F1 will go on even without Ferrari and McLaren.

It's sad. I have the feeling there's a bit more to this than just moving aside (steps back is the headline on James Allen's blog. Poor choice of phrase). He's been one of the stalwarts. During the 80s despite them beating 'my' team, McLaren, as often as they were beaten themselves, it didn't seem to matter.

I remember seeing Alan Jones racing the Williams. He seemed totally at one with the car, more so than even Schumacher and the Ferrari. I remember seeing him going round one corner (maybe Club), either in qually or the actual race, and it seeming as if the car was going slower than everyone else.

Great days for Williams.
You dont halk talk some tripe.

skwdenyer

18,707 posts

269 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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johnfelstead said:
I dont see this as a sad day, Frank will be proud to have such a great legacy and has been able to pass the team on to people who can ensure it survives, thats something to celebrate.
The part I've emphasised is the part I'm less than certain about, sadly.

skwdenyer

18,707 posts

269 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
quotequote all
heebeegeetee said:
That shot we saw of him in the pit today, was that Virginia, his ex(?) wife with him?
I don't think she is his ex-Wife, is she? I know they had trouble after his accident, but were reconciled a long time ago.

heebeegeetee

30,138 posts

277 months

Sunday 11th July 2010
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skwdenyer said:
heebeegeetee said:
That shot we saw of him in the pit today, was that Virginia, his ex(?) wife with him?
I don't think she is his ex-Wife, is she? I know they had trouble after his accident, but were reconciled a long time ago.
Yeah, wasn't sure. My only knowledge comes from her brilliant book, 'A Different Kind of Life' (IIRC smile )

I think they'd been leading seperate lives though. A woman's needs are many-fold, and all that.