Race and classic pictures

When and where it all started for Williams in F1

Today's Monaco Grand Prix will mark the 750th World Championship event for the Williams team, and a big milestone for Formula 1's third most successful team in the sport's history.

Sir Frank was a struggling privateer entrant in F1 in the late sixties and early seventies when he eventually teamed up with engineer Patrick Head and founded in 1977 Williams Grand Prix Engineering, the outfit that would go on to win 114 Grands Prix and nine Constructors' titles.

And for Williams it all started at the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama where the British team entered a March 761 for Belgian driver Patrick Nève.

Today, Williams is no longer owned by its eponymous founding family, having bene sold last year to US private equity firm Dorilton Capital.

But the Grove-based outfit's new owners are committed to preserving Williams' legacy while working hard to return the legendary outfit to the winner's circle at some point in the future.

Long live Williams!

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Hamilton warned about life at Maranello amid Newey talk

Lewis Hamilton has been warned that he will need to adjust to the way Ferrari…

39 mins ago

Lauda's maiden F1 win and Ferrari's 50th GP triumph

In this scene immortalized by Bernard Cahier, a jumping-jack Luca di Montezemolo flanked by the…

2 hours ago

Brown glad McLaren isn't getting swept up by 'silly season'

McLaren CEO Zac Brown is happy that his team is well out of the unsettling…

3 hours ago

Komatsu: Final call on 2025 Haas drivers 'down to team owner'

Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has confirmed that the final choice on who gets…

4 hours ago

Bottas insists 2025 options not limited to Audi alone

Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has insisted that he still has options for extending his F1…

5 hours ago

Alonso's 'rare' longevity inspires admiration from rivals

With the recent announcement of a new contract at Aston Martin meaning that Fernando Alonso…

7 hours ago