The Team Principal

Introduction to Francesca 'Frankie' Williams

Hi,

Let me introduce myself... My name is Francesca 'Frankie' Williams and the family representative and Team Principal of Williams Racing and have been since January 2020. Now I'm the youngest Team Principal in Formula One history!

I'm the daughter of Claire Williams and the granddaughter of Sir Frank Williams and when I was growing up, I was extremely close to them and I still am now. But I will always have a special bond with my grandfather because he is the one who has taught me all I need to know about the team because I've grown up around the team. The best thing my Grandad has taught me was, leadership and how to lead a team of a variety of different people and let me tell you, that has paid off.

When I was 16, I left school with 13 GCSEs. Yes, I was a slight nerd at school but all I knew I wanted to do, was work for the family business, to at least have someone from the family always working with the team.

At the age of 19, I met my best friend, George Russell, when he came and signed for the team and from the day we met, it was like we've been friends for years and we couldn't stop talking and it's like we're joined at the hip.

January 2020, was when mum decided to step back from being deputy team principal, as well as a family representative but it was also a shock when the actual team principal decided to step back and that's when the roles of family representative and Team Principal was handed to me and with me being given these roles I knew I had to make the family proud and my plan was to get the team back to where it was when they were winning championships.

Also, in January 2020, I met our Canadian driver Nicholas Latifi and by god I was starstruck, even George could tell because the entire meeting I was holding about the first race of the season, let just say a certain Canadian was staring at me the entire time and I couldn't help but smile, so I asked to speak to him in my office and all George could say was 'oooohhhh', which made me giggle slightly.

My conversation with Nicky went extremely well because he asked me out. I was hesitant at first but then I kindly accepted and then for a few weeks we continued going out for little dates and I couldn't help but have a beaming smile on my face and an extra spring in my step.

Mid February 2020, the Coronavirus was spreading but the best thing happened and that was Nicky asking me to be his girlfriend and I said yes! It felt a bit weird being a drivers girlfriend as well as his boss but I didn't mind at all.

First race of the season came around, flew out to Melbourne Australia. It was my first race as team principal and I was so nervous but I conquered them nerves as soon as I arrived at the track. But the nerves that went away came back pretty soon, along with stress because the race got cancelled and I had to make sure that all members of my team are safe and are able to get home to their families before things get even worse. I was finding flights for the entire team to get back home and that took a lot of time, I was doing that whilst multitasking. Luckily I got it all done.

Upon arrival into the UK it was announced that we were going into lockdown for 3 weeks, meaning all team meetings were conducted on Zoom. I was still living with my mum, step-dad and my younger half-siblings and trying to conduct a meeting with them screaming was pain in the arse, so where do I sit and do the meeting you ask.... I sit in my car because its quiet and I'm not hearing the screams and tantrums of a toddler.

Over the next few months more meetings were conducted online, especially ones with Formula One and all the other team principals. Most evenings I spent on the phone to either George or Nicky. Well... mainly Nicky. When I had the time, I would go food shopping fo my Grandad and make sure that he is alright and have a little natter with him, when I brought him his shopping.

Racing started back up in July and it was my first proper chance to be team principal at a race, so the pre race nerves kicked in but I was confident we were going to have a good weekend and it was best to think positive, so the team would have a positive outcome.

The 2020 season went by pretty quick and it was time to plan the 2021 season with the rest of the team and work on plans for the team and works on all the positive outcomes for all upcoming race weekends. Christmas 2020 was quiet, spent it with mum, step-dad and my younger half-siblings but I enjoyed it. I went over to Grandads for a couple of hours and had Christmas dinner with him and the rest of the family because we didn't want him to be alone at this time of year. Later that evening, Nicky called and gave me the best Christmas present ever and asked me to move in with him and of course I said yes. Mum was happy for me and she said I will always have a room at home for when I come and visit with Nicky or even if I'm by myself.

So, lets rock the 2021 season with Williams Racing with one amazing team principal