Claire Williams suffering from heartbreak of selling iconic British team everyday since 2020

Claire Williams asserted that she did not sell father Sir Frank Williams' F1 team to cash out of the sport during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Claire Williams suffering from heartbreak of selling iconic British team everyday since 2020

Claire Williams (via Daily Mail)

Williams Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula 1. The Grove-based team is one of the only few independent squads to make a mark on the pinnacle of motorsport. Unfortunately, the Williams family was forced to sell the team in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Claire Williams has now confessed that she bears the pain of selling the team to this day.

Williams was founded by Sir Frank Williams in 1977. This was his second venture into an F1 team. Over the years, the British team won world titles with the likes of Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost. However, by 2020, the Grove-based squad was suffering from a massive decline in its fortunes.

YouTube video

Claire Williams, the daughter of Sir Frank Williams was in charge when the team was sold to Dorilton Capital for $200 million. She opened up about the heartbreaking emotions she feels every day since selling the team. The 48-year-old made it clear that her family did not sell Williams Racing to cash out of the sport. Rather, they had wanted to keep the team for her son and nephews to lead.

There’s not one day where I have the emotion I’m pleased we sold Williams. I will live with the heartbreak of losing it every single day. We didn’t decide to sell because we had had enough of F1 or we wanted to cash out. We wanted to stay in it. It was our life. I wanted to run the team for my son or our nephews.

Claire Williams said on Business of Sport Podcast

Claire Williams reveals $39 million hole behind Williams sale

Williams’ former title sponsor ROKiT pulled out from its deal due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Claire Williams recalled that her team won the lawsuit against ROKiT and was set to receive £30 million ($39 million) in compensation. However, the Grove-based squad was never paid this massive amount. Ultimately, this forced the Williams family to sell the team as they had no money left due to the lack of racing in early 2020. Later on, ROKiT paid Williams Racing around $28 million.

Logan Sargeant driving the Williams FW46 at pre-season testing
Logan Sargeant driving the Williams FW46 at pre-season testing (via Autosport)

We took them to court and we won. They owe us £30 million. They didn’t pay, that left a huge hole in 2020. We were fortunate we had someone come along to plug that gap. We arrived in Melbourne and COVID hit. We didn’t go racing until July. When you don’t go racing, you don’t get money.

Claire Williams explained

Certainly, every F1 fan was heartbroken the day Williams Racing was sold to Dorilton. Although, the American investment firm has put in huge sums to turnaround the Grove-based squad. As such, the sale of the iconic British team has perhaps paved the way for the Williams name to achieve glory in Formula 1 once again.