Drive to Survive Season 7: Claire Williams on her Drive to Survive role and staying connected to the sport she loves

In September 2020, Claire Williams left Formula 1 – the sport that had been hers and her family’s home for more than 40 years – following the sale of the Williams team.

But last year she returned to the public eye in a big way as an analyst on Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series.

The former Williams Deputy Team Principal, who led the British squad to two successive top-three finishes in the Teams’ Championship, now runs her own consultancy business and is also back in the chair for season seven of the smash-hit Netflix series that is out on Friday, March 7.

“It’s a very strange experience for me,” Williams tells F1.com. “I’m very mindful of what a privilege it is to be asked to do it. It’s one of the biggest sporting reality programmes on television and it’s beautifully made.

Watch the trailer for Season 7 of Drive to Survive

“I do however find it strange as I was once on the other side of the fence. Before, I would be on the show and people would be judging me. Now one of my responsibilities sat in the chair as a talking head is to comment on what people in the sport are now doing.

“When I was in the sport, it was one of the things I liked the least about it – that you’re so exposed and people have so many opinions. So, when I agreed to do it, as much as it was a privilege, for me it was about how am I going balance being able to analyse and comment on people whose shoes I have walked in – and do it in a fair and positive way. It’s not easy.”

'I have that inside perspective...'

Williams is synonymous with her father Sir Frank Williams’ team for obvious reasons, the 48-year-old working her way up the ladder at Williams from Press Officer to Head of Communications and then Head of Investor Relations and subsequently Commercial Director before taking over the day-to-day running of the team as Deputy Team Principal – a role she held for seven years.

That put her in the thick of it as she interacted with the sport’s senior leaders across the commercial rights holder, governing body and rival teams. During her time as boss at Williams, she secured 15 podiums. At the time, only two other Team Principals (Toto Wolff and Christian Horner) achieved more. That experience and success gives her the credibility to be an analyst on the series.

YAS MARINA CIRCUIT, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 29: Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, — Williams (far left) worked her way up the ladder within her father's team before taking over the day-to-day running as Deputy Team Principal

“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.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 26: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams prepares to drive during day one — Carlos Sainz is preparing to embark on his first season with Williams in 2025

“To know the impact that someone like Carlos Sainz will have at Williams, it’s nice to be able to give my insight into that.

“And commenting on the end of Lewis’ chapter at Mercedes and now going to Ferrari was something special. It’s such a huge story as we all know.

“For someone who is so passionate about F1, to see Lewis Hamilton, one of the greatest of all time, who can fail to get excited? I get the opportunity to talk about what a great story that is going to be for Formula 1 this season. It’s such a great privilege.”

'My time in F1 is over'

Williams kept a low profile in the first couple of years after she left F1 – but thereafter, she gradually started reigniting the connection with the sport that has been her life and being part of the Netflix series is another example of that.

“Being part of Drive to Survive has enabled me to maintain a connection but one where I’m at a distance,” says Williams. “My time in F1 is over. I ran Williams – that was my family and my father’s team. That era is over.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams looks on in a press — Williams' Drive to Survive role allows her to stay connected with the sport she loves

“I’m one to believe in new beginnings. I’m never going to be asked to go back and run Williams and I’m certainly not going to be offered another job in the sport as I’m a Williams, so it would be weird.

“So, the Drive to Survive role gives me a link back into a sport that I love. And it enables me to talk about a sport I love.”

She adds: “I still miss F1 every single day. For anyone who works in the sport or loves the sport, we all love it for a reason. There is something extraordinarily magical about it and that passion never dies.

“So, of course I miss it every day, but life isn’t all about F1 for me anymore. I get to blend my life with other exciting opportunities.”

The new series of Drive to Survive is available to watch on Netflix from March 7, one week ahead of the season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 14-16. Click here to view every episode.