Williams F1 said Thursday that Claire Williams is stepping down as deputy principal and will be leaving the F1 team with her father, Frank, after this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. The move follows the recent change in ownership to American-based investment firm Dorilton Capital, and means that the "famed" family will "cut its ties to the team after 43 years and nearly 750 races." Claire said in a statement, "With the future of the team now secured, this feels like the appropriate time for us to step away from the sport." The team was co-founded by Frank and won seven drivers’ championships and nine constructors’ titles since entering the sport in '77. Williams is the third-longest standing team in F1 history (AP, 9/3).
James Matthews is one of "three new directors of the Williams team." Matthews' wife, Pippa Middleton, is the younger sister of Kate Middleton. Dorilton co-Founders Matthew Savage and Darren Fultz will join Matthews on the team's board. There has been a "great deal of uncertainty surrounding the identity" of those behind the Dorilton takeover, with former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone "forced to deny claims that he was involved" after full ownership of the team was transferred to the Dorilton-owned BCE Limited fund, whose letters match the initials of Bernard Charles Ecclestone (London INDEPENDENT, 9/3).
Meanwhile, Sunday's Italian GP will be held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic "but 250 doctors and nurses will watch from the grandstands as guests," Ferrari said on Wednesday ahead of its home race. Ferrari said that the medics, who will keep socially distanced, were being invited as "a symbolic honour for their courage, sense of duty and altruism as front line workers in the fight against Covid-19" (REUTERS, 9/3).
