#Frank Williams Academy launched in memory of legendary F1 team boss

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Frank Williams Academy launched in memory of legendary F1 team boss

Claire Williams has launched a new charitable initiative – The Frank Williams Academy – run by the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in memory of her father, one of Formula 1’s most successful Team Principals. Sir Frank Williams, F1’s long-serving team boss who ran two teams during a career that spanned five decades and saw him win seven drivers’ titles and nine constructors’ championships, died in 2021. READ MORE: Playing the long game – How new boss James Vowles is plotting Williams’ return to form He spent most of his F1 career in a wheelchair as a tetraplegic after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a car crash in 1986. As Sir Frank reduced his workload, his daughter Claire took over as the family representative and was Deputy Team Principal in charge of the day-to-day running of the operation before the family sold the team to Dorilton Capital in 2021. Claire was keen to continue Sir Frank’s incredible legacy and on Wednesday, at Hoare Memorial Hall in London’s Westminster and in the presence of the SIA’s patron HRH The Princess Royal, the Frank Williams Academy was launched. Frank and Claire Williams pictured during their time running the Grove team “My father lived the most extraordinary life, not least as one of the most successful Team Principals in the history of the sport and doing so from a wheelchair as a tetraplegic for the greater part of it,” said Claire. “His tenacity in the face of this adversity was just one of the many things that made him such an inspiration to many while he was alive. “Following his death, I wanted to do something to continue that legacy, and the Frank Williams Academy couldn’t be a more fitting tribute. The work that the Academy will do will provide potentially life changing care for spinal cord injured people, just as the SIA did for my dad. With that support, the bounds of possibility are endless.” READ MORE: Sargeant picks out what he is enjoying the most about F1 so far – and the main area he needs to improve Williams Racing supported the launch, with board members Matthew Savage and James Matthews plus Team Principal James Vowles present. The Academy’s logo will run on the team’s FW45 driven by Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant at next weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “We’re delighted to support the launch of the Frank Williams Academy,” said Savage. “To honour Sir Frank's life by providing fundamental education, care and support to change the lives of people affected by spinal cord injuries is truly special. Everyone at Williams Racing is looking forward to helping the Academy flourish.” While Dorilton Capital now run the team, the famous Williams name remains The Academy aims to raise £1.5m to launch and establish the Academy during its early years, with funding set to be used to help educate and train those affected by spinal cord injuries and healthcare professionals to ensure safe, appropriate care is provided. The SIA has been Williams’ Official Charity since 2015, with Claire being appointed Vice President of the organisation a year later. READ MORE: From Brawn GP’s fairytale to Aston Martin’s super start – The biggest year-on-year performance jumps in F1 history “Inspired by Sir Frank’s success and motivated by the challenges he faced, the vision is to completely transform the availability of specialist expertise in health and care so that anyone anywhere has the best chance of a fulfilled life after injury,” added Nik Harley, the SIA’s CEO. “Sir Frank was the living example of such a life. We’re so grateful to his daughter, our amazing Vice President, Claire Williams and to Williams Racing for backing this.” You can make a donation to the Frank Williams Academy here. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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One point not a fair reflection of Williams potential in 2023 says team boss Vowles

James Vowles has taken a moment to reflect on his first three races as Williams Team Principal, saying he feels “encouraged” by what he has seen and arguing that the outfit deserve more than what they have achieved so far. Williams sit at the foot of the F1 constructors’ standings after the initial flyaway trips to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia, with Alex Albon’s P10 finish at the season opener marking the sole point scored up to now. READ MORE: Playing the long game – How new boss James Vowles is plotting Williams’ return to form However, were it not for Albon’s race-ending crash from a high-flying sixth position at Albert Park, which followed an impressive Q3 appearance in qualifying, Williams’ total could have been much higher. Taking stock of the situation in a video for the official Williams F1 website, Vowles said: “We’re three rounds through this 23-race season and encouraging, I think, is the primary word that comes to mind. “We’ve been there or thereabouts and [with] the ability to fight for points at every single one of those rounds so far, and that will continue as we go forward [to] the next few races. We have Baku coming up, and again, I think [it’s] a track that should suit the capability of our car. Albon scored a point for Williams at the season opener in Bahrain “Whilst we sit here 10th in the championship with just a point to our name, it’s not a fair reflection of the work that’s gone into this car so far this year, and the performance that the car can certainly have track on track.” With a month-long break soon coming to a close, Vowles is bracing himself for a busy next phase of the season, which kicks off via a back-to-back sequence in Azerbaijan and Miami – the races coming thick and fast until the summer shutdown. READ MORE: Frank Williams Academy launched in memory of legendary F1 team boss “From here onwards, really, once we go into Azerbaijan, it’s just going to be this rollercoaster of race after race,” the former Mercedes strategy chief went on to comment. “We just need to make sure we learn everything from the previous races, reset, and go on and do the best we can at the next [race weekend].” Albon’s point leaves him 18th in the drivers’ standings after the opening three events, with rookie team mate Logan Sargeant sitting 19th as one of two drivers – alongside AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries – yet to get off the mark. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com