Williams team owner Frank Williams has praised the efforts of the F1 community in responding to the fire which broke out in the team’s garage yesterday.
“I was pleased to welcome back to the factory the majority of our team this morning. One of our people remains in Spain for further medical assistance, but we are all looking forward to his imminent return.
“Everyone at Williams F1 is extremely relieved that this event was contained as quickly as it was and the damage which occurred was, relatively speaking, limited in its nature.
“While the incident was unexpected and definitely most undesirable, it has demonstrated the genuine cohesiveness, camaraderie and spirit of co-operation that exists within the Formula One paddock. The astonishing response from the teams and other paddock personnel was immediate, unconditional and overwhelming.”
Williams confirmed two further team members who were treated for smoke inhalation have been released from hospital.
Another member of the team remains in hospital in Spain having suffered burns in the incident. His condition is described as stable and he is expected to return to the UK within the next 48 hours where his treatment will continue.
Williams, the FIA and the local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
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Image © Williams/LAT
Fixy (@)
14th May 2012, 17:26
This photo from WTF1 really struck me, great to see everyone was giving a help in that dramatic situation.
Jorge Lardone (@jorgelardone)
14th May 2012, 19:30
Photo of the weekend!
Mike (@mike)
15th May 2012, 4:15
Now that’s a legend!
CarolinaBlue704 (@carolinablue704)
14th May 2012, 18:11
Relieved to hear that everyone is okay. It could have been much worse.
MattB (@mattb)
14th May 2012, 18:50
I hear McLaren have offered any help with equipment etc that Williams might need. Nice. If I was Frank, I might kindly ask if they had any spare chassis, bodywork, wings, engines, gearboxes etc lying around… ;)
MarcusAurelius (@marcusaurelius)
14th May 2012, 19:04
Spare Chassis? Hell no! They finished 8th and 9th with it. He better stick to his own chassis ;-)
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
14th May 2012, 19:42
I heard Ferrari offered them a car, but they turned it down…
Less jokingly, I hope their effort at Monaco isn’t compromised. It’s the last place you want to be short of spares, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing what Williams can do there – Pastor and Senna have both been brilliant there in GP2 (and Maldonado for much of last year’s Grand Prix).
Eleanore (@leucocrystal)
15th May 2012, 1:32
I really loved the battle Pastor and Senna had for the Monaco feature race in GP2 2008, and I agree, it would be great to see them both get some great results there again. It still seems a bit unclear just how much work Williams will have to do to provide a functional race car for Bruno within two weeks, but I really hope they can get it done. I’d imagine they lost quite a bit of data in the fire as well, not just equipment.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th May 2012, 19:25
Hope they are not borrowing McLaren’s wheel guns…
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
14th May 2012, 19:25
It’s really good to see F1 come together, especially when some people are critical of the teams not being able to be cohesive.
Is there any news on what actually started the fire yet? I’ve heard rumours, but nothing solid yet.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
15th May 2012, 13:32
@jamiefranklinf1 Initially people thought it was a KERS issue because of the terrible smoke but it was down to fuel ignition. Exactly what happened we don’t know but I expect there will be a statement from the police in the near future.
maxthecat
14th May 2012, 19:28
I thought this picture of one of the SKYF1 crew pulling a Williams team member out of the garage a great image, glad no one was badly hurt.
maxthecat
14th May 2012, 19:30
Grrrr never mind, why i can’t i post links?
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
14th May 2012, 22:03
I believe you have to use a link shortner, then just post the URL
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
14th May 2012, 21:45
I think it is shows the general kindness and braveness in the F1 paddock that several other teams came immediately to help, true heros.
The Money (@pamphlett31220)
15th May 2012, 0:40
If Williams have found some genuine pace and Spain wasn’t just a one off, then they may well be celebrating again in 2 weeks time, both Senna and Maldonaldo have good GP2 results from previous monaco races….you never know..especially the way this season is going!.
BasCB (@bascb)
15th May 2012, 9:26
Sir Frank is right off course, it really is a lovely season so far with great on track action and showing how the Teams do fight, but are sticking together when its really important.
BasCB (@bascb)
15th May 2012, 10:03
After reading that article about how Malodonado’s victory was hailed by both sides of the political divide in Venezuela, and saw the picture of him carrying his cousin from the fire, I thought about his chances of following fellow F1 drivers Reuterman and Pace (and football star Pele) into politics in due time.
I guess that picture would then be posted with a caption like “will he take Venezuela out of the fire as well?“.
verstappen (@verstappen)
15th May 2012, 12:30
Pastor Norris
CNSZU
15th May 2012, 15:14
It is obvious that the cause of the fire is connected with the celebration of the Williams team. It will be interesting to see what the investigation finds out.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem)
15th May 2012, 16:52
How is it obvious? My initial thought was that it’s because of damage from the Schumacher hit.