The team was founded in 1977 by Frank Williams and Patrick Head following the failure of Frank Williams's previous operation, Frank Williams Racing Cars. After a brief period as Wolf–Williams Racing in 1976, Williams moved to Didcot, Oxfordshire, to establish Williams Grand Prix Engineering. Head was recruited as the technical lead, forming a partnership that would define the team's engineering direction. The team later moved its headquarters to a 60-acre site in Grove, Oxfordshire, in 1996.
Williams entered its first race at the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix using a customer March 761 chassis for driver Patrick Nève. The team began manufacturing its own cars in 1978 with the Head-designed FW06. Driver Alan Jones scored the team's first points at the 1978 South African Grand Prix and its first podium at the United States Grand Prix.
The introduction of the FW07 in 1979, the team's first ground-effect car, marked its ascent to the front of the grid. Clay Regazzoni secured the team's first victory at the 1979 British Grand Prix. Alan Jones followed this with four wins in the final six races of the season, helping Williams secure second in the Constructors' Championship.
The 1980s and 1990s represented the team's period of dominance. In 1980, Alan Jones became the first Williams driver to win the Drivers' Championship, while the team secured its first Constructors' title. Keke Rosberg won the 1982 Drivers' Championship despite winning only one race.
The team's partnership with Honda (1983–1987) produced two Constructors' Championships (1986, 1987) and a Drivers' title for Nelson Piquet in 1987. During this era, Nigel Mansell emerged as a primary contender, though he narrowly lost the 1986 title after a tyre failure in the final race. In 1985, Rosberg set the then-fastest lap in Formula One history at the British Grand Prix with an average speed of 160.938 mph.
The most successful era followed with Renault engines (1989–1997). Utilizing Adrian Newey's aerodynamic designs and advanced technologies like active suspension and traction control, Williams won five Constructors' titles in six years (1992–1994, 1996–1997). Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993), Damon Hill (1996), and Jacques Villeneuve (1997) all secured world titles during this span. Villeneuve's victory at the 1997 British Grand Prix marked the team's 100th win.
In March 1986, founder Frank Williams was involved in a road accident in France that left him paralysed. Despite his absence from the track for nearly a year, the team continued to win under the direction of Patrick Head.
The 1994 season was defined by the death of Ayrton Senna, who joined the team that year. Senna was killed in a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix while leading the race. The aftermath included a manslaughter trial in Italy involving team officials that lasted until 2005. In tribute, every Williams car carried a Senna 'S' logo until 2022.
The 1994 championship ended in controversy when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill collided at the final round in Adelaide; the resulting double retirement handed the title to Schumacher. A similar collision occurred in 1997 between Villeneuve and Schumacher at Jerez, though Villeneuve was able to continue and secure the championship.
Following Renault's departure at the end of 1997, the team entered a period of fluctuating performance. A partnership with BMW (2000–2005) saw the team return to the front, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher securing several wins, but the relationship soured over a lack of championship titles. Montoya's 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix win was the team's last victory until Pastor Maldonado won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.
Financial difficulties in the late 2010s, including a last-place finish in 2018 and significant losses in 2019, led to the team being put up for sale. On 21 August 2020, Williams was acquired by the US investment group Dorilton Capital for €152 million. Frank and Claire Williams stepped down from their management roles following the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, ending 43 years of family leadership.
Williams is one of only five teams to have won 100 Formula One races. Between 1980 and 1997, the team won nine Constructors' Championships, a record that stood until 2000. Seven different drivers have won the world title with the team. Notably, no Williams Drivers' Champion ever went on to win another championship after leaving the team.
Williams has engaged in various motorsport and engineering projects outside of Formula One:
British Touring Car Championship: Ran the works Renault programme from 1995 to 1999, winning the 1997 drivers', manufacturers', and teams' titles with Alain Menu.
Le Mans: Built the BMW V12 LMR, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999.
Rallying: Developed the MG Metro 6R4 Group B rally car for Rover in 1984.
Formula Two: Developed the chassis for the revived FIA Formula Two championship in 2009.
The team operates Williams Grand Prix Technologies and Williams Heritage, the latter of which maintains and restores the team's historic racing chassis at its Grove headquarters.
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