Patrick Head: F1's head talker

Having co-founded the Williams Formula One team in 1977 and overseen 113 Grand Prix victories, nine constructors’ and seven drivers’ titles over a period of 30 years, it’s pretty clear that Patrick Head knows what it takes to create a winning formula.

Graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College London in 1970, Head joined Lola Cars, the racing car chassis manufacturer. While there, he met Frank Williams. Now Frank could spot a good thing when he saw it and immediately set about luring the Farnborough-born Head to the design team of Williams Grand Prix Engineering. By 1978, Head’s FW06 race car was being put through its paces. This was
a heck of an achievement because the company had little or no money and was operating out of telephone booths. Regardless, Head had designed a decent car, but it was his next effort, the FW07, that took on Lotus in the ground-effect game and won. It helped the team finish ninth in the constructors’ championship the following year. That car put him on the map and Head was suddenly a household name. With Aussie, Alan Jones, in the driver’s seat, Williams secured both world titles in 1980. The plaudits landed squarely on Patrick’s shoulders, and rightly so. He’d proved he was able to design cars that could take on the best, and beat them. But rather than continue in the same vein, he created a different role for himself within the team — technical director. This allowed him to oversee not only the design process, but the construction, racing and testing of the cars. He also proved he could lead the team himself in 1986. When Frank suffered a crash leaving him in a wheelchair, Patrick was put in charge and, under his leadership, Williams secured the constructors’ title in 1986 and both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles a year later.

When engineer Adrian Newey was added to the team, he forged a great partnership with Head and between 1991 to 1997, Williams dominated like no other. In all, the team won 59 races, five constructors’ titles and four drivers’ titles, while the FW14B used Newey’s aerodynamics and Head’s gearbox and suspension to become one of the greatest Formula One cars.

Head then changed positions again to become director of engineering — a role he held until, surprisingly, selling his shares and stepping down in 2011.

Together with Frank, he forged one of British engineering’s greatest success stories. A clash of personalities between himself and chairman Adam Parr has been cited for him leaving, but Head played down any such rumours in his usual, no-nonsense style, admitting he had outlived his usefulness to the team.

He’s involved in the company’s hybrid activities, but just how Williams fares in the future without his creativity, knowledge and experience remains to be seen.