Claire Williams OBE, the queen of F1, successfully led the Williams racing team until 2020, making her one of only two women to have ever headed a Formula 1 team in the modern era. Under her guidance, Williams achieved an impressive 3rd place in the World Championship for Constructors in 2014 and 2015.
After graduating from Newcastle University with a degree in Politics in 1999, Claire kick-started her career at Silverstone Circuit. She joined the Williams team in 2002 and steadily climbed the ranks, eventually becoming Commercial Director in 2012 and later Deputy Team Principal in 2013. In these roles, she effectively oversaw the team's operations.
Claire's impact extends beyond her achievements in the racing world. She has been a driving force in promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport. She supported Susie Wolff's participation in a Formula 1 race weekend, marking the first time a female racing driver had done so since 1992. Additionally, as Vice President of the Spinal Injuries Association, Claire launched the Sir Frank Williams Academy program to assist individuals with spinal cord injuries.
In 2020, Claire successfully negotiated the sale of the Williams F1 team. Currently, she provides consultancy services to brands entering Formula 1. Her remarkable contributions to the sport were recognized when she was awarded an OBE in 2016.
Her extensive experience and notable achievements make Claire a highly sought-after speaker. She shares her expertise in leading high-performance teams and inspires audiences with her stories of breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Today she is a global Brand Ambassador for green technologies business WAE
Technologies, formerly Williams Advanced Engineering, and one of the expert Formula 1 analysts on the Netflix ‘Drive To Survive’ documentary series.
