Williams successes were less about Frank and more about Patrick Head and Adrian Newey. If Franks management style and endless broken promises didn't drive Newey away, maybe they'd still be winning races. He treated his drivers like crap as well. Williams was mis managed from well before the time his daughter took over.
He was certainly the driving force that got Williams going (although Patrick Head was the genius behind the operation), but his management style never adapted to cover the fact Patrick took a few steps backward and he could no longer fully rely on his genius to pull the team through. Luckily, he hired another genius in Newey but unfortunately treated him with the same contempt he treated everyone else with and hence here we have the net result.
I think we all wish Sir Frank a quick recovery.
Capito is a top notch hire. This can only be good for Williams and I wish him all the best. It was great to see his leadership drive Volkswagen to the dominant success they had in WRC. Lets hope some of that rubs off onto the new Williams group with successes on track.
Sorry, but I have to stick up for Frank. The man, through sheer grit and determination, willed into existence one of the winningest Formula 1 teams of all time. A team which won 9 constructors championships across 2 distinct eras after early struggles - even failures - that would have left most mortals disheartened, if not outright broken.
Did he attract, hire, and push to the absolute limit a host of brilliant on and off track talent that went on to bring him loads of glory and accolades? Yes, guilty as charged!
If anything, Formula 1 became broken, not Frank. Things have gotten progressively more "corporate" over the years and, yes, possibly that has lead to Formula 1 no longer being the kind of place for a Frank Williams to make a name for themselves.
That makes me sad and the thought of the sport becoming increasingly populated by Toto Wolff clones - with their $200 haircuts, slick political manueverings, and board of directors pleasing soundbites - does not fill me full of optimism for the future of the sport.
So I say thank you, Frank. Formula 1 would not have been the same without you.