“Having been in the Team Principal role and been in so many of the situations that Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO], Christian [Horner, Red Bull Team Principal], Ayao [Komatsu, Haas Team Principal], James [Vowles, Team Principal] or whoever it might be, I have that inside perspective of where those conversations with potential drivers are going to happen and how the conversation can go,” Williams adds.
There are a few new faces this season, including Flavio Briatore who returned to the sport as Alpine Executive Adviser in 2024, and new faces in new places, like Carlos Sainz heading to Williams’ former team after leaving Ferrari. Having worked in the sport when Briatore was previously around – and having tried herself to sign Sainz, Williams is well-placed to comment.
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“Because I had been in the sport for so long, I remember Flavio when he was running Renault/Benetton when my dad was running Williams,” she says. “I remember when he would come to our house for meetings with dad. Suddenly I’m being asked what Flavio Briatore is like.
“I suppose not many people in the sport now worked with him back then. I didn’t work with him, but I knew him from being in meetings with him, when I’d have to be my dad’s secretary at Team Principal meetings and stuff. It was interesting to be asked what he is like.
“The Carlos Sainz story was brilliant to talk about because Carlos Sainz to Williams is such a brilliant story. I spent a bit of time trying to negotiate with Carlos to come to the team when I was running it. It’s now 10 years later and he’s finally made it there.
