At the age of 79, Formula 1 legend Frank Williams has died

“It is with great sadness that we confirm, on behalf of the Williams family, the death of Sir Frank Williams. After being admitted to hospital on Friday, Sir Frank passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his family. Today we pay tribute to such a beloved and inspiring figure. We will miss Frank very much,” announced the team Williams.La Formula 1 also showed its sorrow for the death of the man who has been at the helm of a team of the ‘Great Circus’ for the longest time. “We are filled with the most immense and profound sadness at the passing of Sir Frank Williams. His was a life driven by a passion for motorsport. His legacy is immeasurable and he will always be part of Formula 1. Meeting him was an inspiration and a privilege. He will be so missed,” he said. The former driver founded in 1966 his first team, frank Williams Racing Cars, and ten years later created his current team. In 2019, he turned 50 as a team principal in Formula 1, having managed two teams in that time and conquering, with the last of them, seven World Drivers’ titles and nine Constructors’ titles.The Briton and his family, including his daughter Claire, who had led the team since 2013, left Formula 1 earlier this year after selling it to investment firm Dorilton Capital.Williams, who suffered a spinal cord injury from a car accident at the Paul Ricard Circuit in 1986 that left him in a wheelchair, began to reduce his workload in Formula 1 in 2012, when he left the Williams Board of Directors.Claire Williams took over as the family representative and was later appointed deputy director of the team, while his father kept the title of team principal. Williams was hospitalized for days in 2016 recovering from pneumonia, and subsequently stopped traveling to racing. He also had to be hospitalized in December last year. Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali mourned the death of Williams “a true giant” of the ‘Great Circus’. “This morning, Claire Williams called me to inform me of the sad news that her beloved father, Sir Frank Williams, had passed away,” he explained. He was a true giant of our sport who overcame life’s toughest challenges and fought every day to win on and off the track. We have lost a much-loved and respected member of the Formula 1 family and will miss him dearly. His incredible achievements and personality will be etched into our sport forever. My thoughts are with all of Williams’ family and friends at this sad time.”

Original source in Spanish