The 2021 Formula One World Championship will remain in the memory of all involved at Williams Racing for a very long time, not only did they accomplish a front-row start for the first time in years but the famous side also managed their first podium since 2017, all thanks to their brilliant Brit. The British team righted the wrongs of their dismal 2020 season, which saw them end the year without a point for the first time in their history. The brilliant George Russell and an improved Nicholas Latifi, guided Williams’ to not only twenty-three points but also eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.
On the track, 2021 was a year which firmly reinstated Williams’ ambition to be at worst a midfield team for the time being. Off the track though and the team had to cope with the greatest tragedy possible to Williams Racing, the tragic loss of founder Sir Frank Williams who sadly passed away in November. Across the paddock, teams and drivers celebrated the life and remembered the incredible man that was Sir Frank, there will never be someone quite like him in Formula One ever again.
Sir Frank Williams sadly passed away on the 28th November aged 79-years-old (1942-2021) – Credit: XPB Images / Williams RacingIt was announced mid-season that after months of speculation Russell would be replacing Valtteri Bottas at the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team for the 2022 season, it was easy to see why! Russell yet again was the mainly predominate figure in the Williams camp and led the team to greatness once again. The Belgian Grand Prix will go down in history for Williams as the day they struck back. Russell landed an incredible second place in Qualifying under immense pressure due to the torrential rain hammering the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The race’s effective non-existence due to a continuation of the poor weather, meant Russell’s second place start was essentially converted into a second place finish, the team’s first podium since Lance Stroll in 2017 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It was also the British driver’s first podium in the sport. Russell’s brilliant 2021 season led him to a fifteenth place finish in the Drivers Championship.
Canadian Nicholas Latifi may not have enjoyed the same highs as Russell did in 2021, the 2019 Formula 2 World Champion did however show significant improvement in his second season of Formula One. The season actually started poorly for Latifi, however mid-season brought the best out of the Canadian who proved to be a fan of challenging conditions. Latifi claimed back to back points finishes at the Hungarian and Belgian Grand Prix’s which led to a seventeenth place finish in the Championship.