Claire Williams admits departure from F1 was 'painful'

Former Williams Racing deputy team principal Claire Williams has admitted that it's hard to watch today's team at Grand Prix weekends now that it's under new management.

Williams was a family operation founded by Claire's father Sir frank Williams in 1977, which went on to win seven drivers' championships and nine constructors' titles in a blaze of success during the 1980s and 90s.

Having previously worked in the public relations operation at the squad, Claire took over the day-to-day running of the team from Sir Frank in March 2013.

But with the team struggling for money and ailing on the track, the Williams family eventually decided to sell the operation to investment group Dorilton Capital for 152 million euros in August 2020.

That fee included the settling of all outstanding debts as well as a promise that the team would keep its base at Grove in the UK, and would retain the Williams name.

Claire Williams was offered the chance to stay on as team principal, but she opted to leave with immediate effect after the 2020 Italian GP.

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That left Simon Roberts as acting team principal, until he was replaced by former Volkswagen Motorsport chief Jost Capito. Capito left at the end of last season, with former Mercedes strategy chief James Vowles taking up the reins.

Claire Williams admitted that it had been hard to see other people running the team that she and her father helmed for so long.

"I don't watch any more," she told The Sun newspaper. "It has been a really conscious decision, because I'm still recovering from taking a step back.

"Leaving my team has left an enormous gap," she continued. "We were reluctant sellers. Life took us down that road where we were forced to sell."

Claire said that she was gradually getting used to the new reality, and enjoying seeing the team on the up after recent top ten successes for Alex Albon at Montreal and Silverstone.

"My dad taught me, when you go through a struggle the success when you finally get it is all the more rewarding.

"It is still quite painful and difficult seeing someone else run the team that was once in our family and life [but] I'm getting to that point now where I’m going to start watching again.

"With James [Vowles] now being there, it looks like the team is moving in the right direction. When they told me it was James, I was like: 'My goodness, just genius!' He's a brilliant choice.

"It is nice that Williams as a name still remains in Formula 1," she added. "I genuinely believe my dad would have been really happy with that decision as well."

And Claire was also delighted to see George Russell achieve success with Mercedes. He made his F1 debut with Williams in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

"I'm really proud of George and so happy for him," she said, admitting: "We did hold him back at Williams by keeping him to his contract."

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