Williams prepares to celebrate the 800th Grand Prix

Williams shared plans to celebrate an important milestone in the team’s history – the 800th Grand Prix – in a bright and large-scale manner.

Statistics buffs will immediately try to argue that last year’s Williams cars entered the grid for the 800th time, but it depends on how you count. If you read carefully today’s press release from the team, then it is clear that the countdown is from the 1978 season, ie when Frank Williams and Patrick Head had already established Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited. Everything that was before, ie during the Frank Williams Racing Cars period, was not counted in this case.

The anniversary will be celebrated for a long time – everything begins during the days of the British race weekend and continues through the Hungarian Grand Prix. Here is what the Williams press service writes: “The 800th Grand Prix for the Grove team should have been the British leg of the championship, but the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix means that this momentous event has been postponed to the next race in Budapest. Williams Racing will be celebrating both weekends, so our British fans can join in the celebrations.”

At Silverstone Williams cars will have a special design and at the Hungaroring they will also have special decals. The design of the FW45 on the British Championship podium is inspired by the team’s historic legacy and is also dedicated to the memory of Sir Frank Williams, the founder.

Also on the day of the British Grand Prix, Jenson Button, Williams brand ambassador, will drive the famous FW14B car (Nigel Mansell won the championship in one in 1992) and complete a few laps around Silverstone circuit.

And a week before that, from Monday 3 July, a Williams fan zone will be organized in the heart of London at Piccadilly Circus with all kinds of attractions for fans. And there everyone will have the chance to meet Alex Albon, Logan Sargent, Jenson Button and team leader James Vowles. Alain Prost’s 1993 champion car will also be on display there.

James VowlesTeam Principal: “The 800th Grand Prix is ​​a remarkable achievement in Williams Racing history. We are very proud of our historical heritage, which has been built up over decades.

In the 46 years that the team has existed, it has achieved incredible results. Williams has won the Constructors’ Championship nine times and its drivers have won seven titles, and we are second only to Ferrari in the ranking of the most successful teams in Formula 1.

We invite all of our fans to join us in our celebration as we celebrate the glorious past while looking to the future.”