Born: 16 April 1942 · Died: 28 November 2021 · Age at death: 79
How old was Frank Williams when he died?
Frank Williams died aged 79. He was born on 16 April 1942 and died on 28 November 2021.
Quick facts
Date of birth16 April 1942
Date of death28 November 2021
Age at death79
NationalityBritish
BirthplaceSouth Shields, United Kingdom
Editor's Take:
Frank Williams shows how stubbornness can turn a struggling outfit into a dynasty. At a low point his team was so short of money that it barely functioned, and in 1976 he lost ownership of it altogether. Rather than give up, he restarted with Patrick Head in Didcot and built one of the sport's most successful teams. He kept leading it after the 1986 car accident left him tetraplegic and dependent on constant care. The small Senna tribute carried on later cars shows how the team remembered its history. He was knighted in 1999.
Key Milestones
1966: Founded Frank Williams Racing Cars
1977: Co-founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering with Patrick Head
1979: Clay Regazzoni gave the team its first Grand Prix win at Silverstone
1980: Won the first Drivers' and Constructors' Championships
1999: Received a knighthood
Sir Francis Owen Garbett Williams (16 April 1942 – 28 November 2021) was a British businessman, motorsport executive and racing driver. From 1977 to 2020, Williams served as co-founder, team principal and co-owner of Williams in Formula One, winning nine World Constructors' Championship titles between 1980 and 1997.
Frank Williams was born in South Shields on 16 April 1942.
He founded Frank Williams Racing Cars in 1966, paying for it with his work as a travelling grocery salesman.
With engineer Patrick Head he created Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1977, based in a former carpet warehouse in Didcot.
The team won nine Constructors' Championships between 1980 and 1997 and 114 Grand Prix victories under his leadership.
Career highlights
1966Racing team founded: Frank Williams Racing Cars begins
1977Williams Grand Prix Engineering: New team formed with Patrick Head
1980First world titles: Alan Jones wins the drivers' crown
1986Life-changing car accident: Left tetraplegic after crash in France
1999Knighted: Honoured for services to motor sport
Did you know?At one low point he ran his team's business from a telephone box, because the phone line at his premises had been cut off for unpaid bills.
