Rich man faster man

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Sir Frank Williams has seen it all in F1. Here he talks openly about the economics of speed, Jean Todt, scandals and the prospect of Michael Schumacher making a comeback to the sport.

Sir Frank Williams hasn’t been media trained. Long may everything he touches prosper.

In these days of two-bit CEOs and egomaniacs glancing nervously at their communications man before trotting out the official line to killer questions like ‘any plans for the weekend?’, it is both wonderful and rare for a journalist to interview a genuinely impressive man who answers the question he has been asked.

On Michael Schumacher’s return to F1: “Not a chance. No.”

On ex-Ferrari-boss-turned-FIA president Jean Todt: “He was a very difficult character. Very hard to get on with.”

On former president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Max Mosley: “Max is seriously unfairly clever.”

On having an independent team: “Being independent means lots of things, not just not having enough money.”

And on who is the fastest driver today: “Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel.”

Williams is wheeled into the room late. The gathered journalists had long ago turned restive. Most of us had had enough of the F1 hoopla a month ago, and waiting for Williams for the last ninety minutes was nobody’s idea of fun.

Within about thirty seconds of his arrival, his enormous personality has filled the room and we are all laughing at his jokes. His diction is immaculate, delivered with old world courtesy (he apologises to the ladies present after contending that men get “turned on” by racing), and his eyes are filled with mischief.

He’s a man’s man, and unapologetically so, but then you’d expect nothing less: he’s been the driving force behind the most illustrious independent team in the most testosterone filled of sports for four decades.

“Men are different from women, and for many men the noise, the thrill, the speed is just a magic turn on. Well it is. I don’t look in the shops and say ‘wow that is a pretty dress.’ We’re all different, thank goodness,” he says.

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