Williams have announced that they are taking on a new Deputy Head Team Principal, Claire Williams - Frank Williams' daughter - with immediate effect. Claire was already part of the Williams team carrying out a different role. However from now on she will be "playing a vital role in the day to day running and long term development of the race team." according to a statement released to
Formula1 by the Grove based team.
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svet-hitrosti
Sir Frank Williams is keeping his Formula One business in the family by promoting his daughter, Claire, to the newly-created role of deputy team principal. The announcement comes two weeks after Sir Frank's wife, Lady Virginia, 66, known as 'Ginny', died following a two-year battle with cancer. Sir Frank, 70, said his wife would have been proud of his daughter as she takes a leading position in the male dominated sport.
He told
Formula1: "With Claire being appointed deputy team principal, I know the future of Williams is in extremely safe hands. This appointment also had Ginny’s blessing, who I know would have been incredibly proud to have seen Claire taking on this position by my side. It is no secret that Claire is my daughter but I am proud to say that she has fought hard to earn this appointment and of all the battles she has had to fight, the prejudices of her father were not the least challenging,''
The team had planned on announcing the appointment just before the start of the current season, but decided on a delay in light of Lady Virginia's death. However, the team have said "Lady Virginia knew of her daughter's promotion before her death two weeks ago"
Father-of-three Sir Frank, co-founder of the Williams Formula 1 team, is confident is daughter is up to the job of steering the team to more success. He said: 'Over the past decade Claire has worked tirelessly for Williams. Her knowledge of the sport and passion for the team is unquestionable, and I’m proud to say during her time here she has proven herself to be one of our most valuable assets.'
Sir Frank said his daughter had to battle his own prejudices to gain her senior role Miss Williams, 36, takes on the role with immediate effect and will retain her current position as commercial director and continue to be part of the company’s board.Sir Frank said he is keen to hand over the reins to the next generation and his daughter's appointment was not handed to her on a plate.
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Williams, winners of nine constructors' and seven drivers' world championships between 1980 and 1997, are seeking to regain their former glory when names including Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jenson Button drove for them.
They have yet to score a point in two races this season with Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado and Finnish rookie Valtteri Bottas. The team finished eighth overall in 2012.
