Why Williams' sale marks the end of an era for Formula 1

By:

Luke Smith

Aug 21, 2020, 3:36 PM

News that Formula 1's last independent team has been acquired by a US-based investment firm isn't only a seminal moment in Williams's history, but for F1 too. Romanticism aside, it's a good move for the team's finances and competitive prospects

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Good news surrounding Williams has been rather hard to come by in Formula 1 over the past few years.

Since slumping to the bottom of the pecking order in 2018 and enduring its 'annus horribilis' last year, when delays in the car build left it a long way adrift from the rest of the field, Williams looked nothing like the team that once claimed five constructors' titles in six years.

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Luke Smith

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Luke Smith is Autosport’s Formula 1 reporter. Luke has been working in F1 as a journalist since 2013, initially alongside a History degree at University College London. Luke served as the lead F1 writer at American broadcaster NBC Sports from 2013-17 before spending two years as the F1 Editor for Crash.net. Luke joined Autosport for the 2020 season.

Luke is also a contributor to The New York Times for its F1 special reports, and has previously worked with Al Jazeera and CNBC, as well as hosting FIA press conferences. Outside of F1, Luke is a fan of sports and music, with an ever-growing vinyl collection, and has being bitten by the running bug in recent years. He also runs a surprisingly popular blog reviewing the often-terrible media centre coffee from his F1 travels.