Williams Martini Racing co-founder Patrick Head has been awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.
Head was instrumental in the establishment of Williams Grand Prix Engineering alongside Frank Williams back in the 1970s, acting as the team’s first technical director.
Remaining in the role until 2004, Head won nine constructors’ championships with Williams and oversaw one of the most dominant eras in F1 history alongside his understudy, Adrian Newey, in the 1990s.
The team’s heyday came under the joint leadership of Williams and Head as drivers such as Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve drove for the team.
As part of the Queen’s birthday honors, Head was recognized for his services to motorsport and given a knighthood, making him Sir Patrick Head.
“My name may be above the door, but I have always stressed that the creation and subsequent success of Williams was very much a team effort,” Sir Frank Williams said.
“My co-founder Patrick Head was the design genius who turned us from a small upstart into a world championship winning force.
“His engineering talent helped play a key role in establishing Great Britain as a leading force in global motorsport and the benefits of this are still being felt to this day, both culturally and economically. This award is thoroughly deserved for his contribution to British engineering and motorsport.”
After stepping down as technical director, Head acted as the team’s engineering director before resigning from the Williams board of directors at the end of 2011.
However, he still remains a highly influential and well-respected figure in F1 circles, and this knighthood only furthers his legacy.