That time Claire Williams angered Ferrari by snatching Martini sponsorship. Claire Williams shared some anecdotes from a memorable Formila 1 season.

The behind-the-scenes story

“We’ll be watching you in our rearview mirrors now that you’re Williams’ sponsor.” With this note sent to Martini, Ferrari’s management expressed their disappointment over the failed negotiations between Ferrari and Martini, which collapsed due to Williams’ intervention in securing the sponsorship for themselves. Claire Williams revealed this behind-the-scenes story.

“Ferrari was furious,” said Claire Williams—the daughter of Sir Frank and, at the time, team principal of the British team (this was in 2014)—as a guest on the What it Takes podcast. “I was very proud to have won that negotiation because Martini was very close to signing with Ferrari, which had had a strong 2013 season (third in the Constructors’ Championship, just six points behind second-placed Mercedes, with two wins). I believe the deciding factor was the space we were willing to offer Martini on the livery. Ferrari’s livery is red, and there’s no room for compromise on that, whereas we could make the entire car available. I told Martini, ‘Why not bring back the iconic Martini stripes across our entire car?’ And so we secured the sponsorship—I think our car was one of the most beautiful on the grid.” – she pointed out.

The performance of the Mercedes hybrid power unit also allowed Williams to outscore Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, effectively reversing Ferrari’s note to Martini. Williams finished the 2014 season with 320 points, behind only Mercedes and Red Bull, while Ferrari placed fourth, over 100 points behind. “That year, a small part of me was truly happy not only to have taken a sponsor from Ferrari but also to have beaten them on the track,” Claire Williams concluded.