Perhaps it’s the current slump, but many forget that Williams is the third most successful team in Formula 1, behind only Ferrari and McLaren. The team had it’s worst ever year in 2011, finishing the season with just five points, and last of the established teams. It’s with this background that Williams director of engineering and legend Patrick Head is leaving the team after 34 years of service.
Head has stepped down from the outfit’s board of directors with immediate effect. He will from now focus on the company’s thriving hybrid business and will remain a board director of Williams Hybrid Power Limited.
“Patrick and I have been in partnership for 34 years. During that time, he has been the leader of the technical team that has won the majority of our race wins and championships. This is a remarkable legacy and one which will be treasured and definitely not forgotten.,” said founder and friend Frank Williams.
“Patrick is a very straightforward, hard working and truly gifted engineer who comfortably operates at a world class level. I will miss him very much, as I am sure his colleagues will, and he will always be welcome at Grove. Indeed, Patrick will still be seen around the factory as he continues to be involved in the development of our hybrid power activities,” he added.
In the glory days of the 1980s and ’90s, Head drove the team’s engineering department to win 113 grands prix, seven drivers world championships and nine constructors’ titles for Williams. As Frank said, a remarkable legacy.
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It wouldn’t be Williams without Patrick Head & Frank Williams. Hopefully this will not be the end of the team, like so many F1 teams that died before.
I remember Williams being unbeatable back in the early 90s when they were ahead of all the other teams in terms of technology especially hydraulics and electronics. They also had the powerful Renault engines. Unfortunate that Head is leaving the team on a low but age is catching up with all of the early members. Frank Williams included. Williams should be fighting against Ferrari and McLaren but in this day an age it’s not possible for an independent team with limited resources like them to stay ahead.
The first F1 car Ayrton Senna ever drove was a Williams (in testing) but circumstances did not allow him to sign with them for the season. He came full circle and signed up in 1994 and then died. His first ever and last F1 car. Ironic
no malaysian would comment about this…
no malaysian will comment about this topic…
The FW-14 still remains one of the most advanced f1 cars ever built. It has been a long time since Williams glory days but those days will return.
Yes and Williams even developed a CVT type gearbox and ran it in testing but it was quickly banned and so they never raced it