A Floating Williams

Formula One crossed an historic turning point on March 2, but I think it is safe to say that almost no one realized it. A new era was ushered in that could, at least in my opinion, change the very face of the sport from this point going forward. Interestingly, the change did not occur on the track, nor in any of the hermetically clean workshops scattered across Europe. Rather, the new paradigm was ushered in with the ring of a bell in Frankfurt, Germany, and in of all places the Frankfurt stock exchange. Yes, you read that right. On March 2, Williams Grand Prix Engineering ushered in a new era when it became the first Formula One team to float itself on the public stock market. And, like the advents of aerodynamics and sponsor advertising, there’s no way to put the genie back in the bottle.

If you read our exclusive interview with Frank Williams several months ago, you were likely just as impressed as we were with what a clever man he is—both on the track and in the boardroom. Williams built a dynasty from very humble beginnings and did so with intelligence and determination. As such, it comes as no surprise to me that Williams would be pioneering new financial frontiers in Formula One.