Sir Patrick Head
SIR PATRICK HEAD, KNIGHTED FOR services to motor sport in 2015, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from University College London in 1970 and soon after started work at Lola. Five years later, having taken time out to pursue his passion for boat building, he met Frank Williams and the rest, as they say, is motor racing history.
They formed Williams Grand Prix Engineering, Head in charge of engineering the cars while Williams chased the finances. After a year with a customer March in ‘77 Head produced his first Williams, the FW06, and Alan Jones was signed up as their driver with backing from airline Saudia.
In ’79 came the first of more than 100 F1 victories, Clay Regazzoni winning the British Grand Prix in Head’s FW07. In 1980 the car was the class of the field: Alan Jones won the world championship, and Williams the constructors’ title. The Williams team’s tally stands at nine constructors’ championships, seven drivers’ titles, 114 grand prix victories and 313 podiums, making it one of the sport’s most successful teams. Co-founder
From his home in Sardinia, Head, now retired, tells us about the early days, and casts his eye over Formula 1 today.
Motor Sport: How did you first meet Frank Williams and what did you know about the man with whom you would go on to build such a successful partnership?
“I was building my boat, an Endurance 40 schooner, in the Surrey Docks at the time. I’d worked for Lola, designed a
