F1 legend Sir Frank Williams passes away

Williams Racing founder passes away at 79

Motorsport has lost yet another legend. Today, Sir Frank Williams, racing icon and the soul of his racing team - aptly named Williams Racing - has passed away at 79. 

Despite what looked to be a passion for speed and daring, Sir Frank Williams' accolades are not so much as what he did behind the wheel. Far from being a shining point in his history, his accident in Southern France would have been a turning point for the man who simply loved cars and racing.

He was 43 years old when he lost control of his car, rendering him a tetra- or a quadriplegic. As it was, hovering between life and death through recovery proved a small matter compared to his will and devotion; even against all odds.

It was in the early 1960s that Williams became a staple in racing. With his relationship and friendship with the likes of Piers Courage, Charles Lucas, Anthony "Bubbles" Horsely, and Charles Crichton-Stuart, they transported Williams' self-built race cars across continents to race. His Formula Three stints weren't as successful as he wanted, though. Late in 1967, with Courage behind the wheel of his prototype F3 Brabham, Williams got his first win as an entrant. The following years were as fruitful, and as the racing gods had it, they moved to Formula One in 1969.

But it wasn't as dreamy a story as their F3 parade. Courage died in a most unfortunate accident, and the years that followed were difficult to get a win - their best was a 2nd place win in the '75 German Grand Prix. At the end of that year, he will have forged 2 relationships, one of them lasting what was a lifetime, with Patrick Head, his engineer. 

In the years of 1979, 1980, and 1982, various drivers had won a good number of Grand Prix with the Head-designed cars, along with the leadership and motivation of Williams himself. After returning from his accident in '92, the revolutionary FW14B allowed Williams to grab the championship that year. 

Thirteen years after his accident, Williams had since added seven Constructors' and five Drivers' Championships to his team's accomplishments. Under his brand and wing, names like Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, and Jacques Villeneuve brought the coveted titles home. For all his accomplishments and contributions to motorsport, Frank Williams was knighted by the Monarchy - a title he so truly deserved.

Many a man and woman had cemented their legacy behind the wheel, in the car. But Williams did so in a different but no less invaluable way - on his wheelchair, in the paddocks, and with his team. A stigma had always existed but in an interview with then-rival team McLaren boss Ron Dennis summed up the brilliance of Sir Frank Williams in a reply to an interview question: "Now he's even more dangerous. All he can do with his time is think."

God speed, Sir Frank Williams.