Sir Frank Williams
Founder and team principal
Built the team from nothing and led it through every one of its championship seasons.
Midfield
Williams
An independent name written into F1 history.
United Kingdom · Based at Grove, United Kingdom, with a customer power unit supply.
The Story
Frank Williams and Patrick Head founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1977. The team won its first championships in the early 1980s and became one of the sport's great constructors.
Through the 1980s and 1990s Williams won nine constructors' championships with drivers including Alan Jones, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve.
After a long decline the team was sold in 2020 and is now rebuilding with new investment, leadership and infrastructure at Grove.
Legendary Figures
Patrick Head
Co-founder and technical director
Designed and led the engineering behind the team's title-winning cars.
Nigel Mansell
Driver, 1985–1988, 1991–1992
Won the 1992 world championship in the dominant Williams FW14B.
Adrian Newey
Chief designer, 1991–1996
Designed the cars that delivered the team's most dominant seasons.
Key Moments
1977
Team founded
Frank Williams and Patrick Head started the constructor.
1980
First titles
Alan Jones won the drivers' championship and the team its first constructors' title.
1992
FW14B era
Active suspension made the car the class of the field.
1997
Last championship
Villeneuve took the team's most recent drivers' title.
2020
New ownership
The Williams family stepped back and a rebuild began.
2026 Line-up
Carlos Sainz
Spanish
A multiple Grand Prix winner who joined Williams in 2025 after four seasons with Ferrari.
Alexander Albon
Thai
The team's established reference driver, with Williams since 2022.
Team Facts
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Grove, United Kingdom
- Constructors' titles
- 9
- Drivers' titles
- 7