New Williams movie premieres in London’s West End  

The dramatic documentary, called Williams, is directed by BAFTA winner Morgan Matthews and scheduled to hit screens this summer.

It focuses on how Frank Williams started his team from scratch, the impact of his near fatal car accident and how his family battled to keep him alive.

The film is based on a 1991 book by Lady Virginia Williams: A different kind of life, and uses audio from tapes she recorded with a friend where she speaks candidly about her family’s life. It also includes an array of archive footage, some of which has rarely been seen, plus dramatic reconstructions of Williams’ accident and subsequent battle in hospital. 

The documentary is laced with engaging interviews with the likes of ex-drivers Nigel Mansell, Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet, former technical director Sir Patrick Head and one of Williams’ close friends David Brodie. 

“People may have this expectation that it’s going to be about the team’s on-track history in motorsport and a chronology of the team over the years but it’s not,” said deputy team principal Claire Williams. 

“It’s predominantly told through my mum’s book, which she wrote back in 1991 after dad’s accident. It focuses on Frank’s beginnings in motorsport, racing in the late 60s, how he got the team together in the 70s, the first success in the 80s and his accident. 

“It tells the story that a lot of people don’t know about Williams. Everyone thinks about Frank and Patrick when they think about Williams. 

“The story of Williams is as much about my mum’s influence on the team in the early days as anything else and the important role that she played.”

Her father added: “I hope the fans enjoy the film as much as I’ve enjoyed being part of motor racing. 

"I’m glad that both the people behind the team and my family come out as the true heroes of the story.”

The world premiere took place at Curzon Mayfair on Tuesday night, with Claire Williams, Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa among the guests in attendance. 

The documentary will go on general cinema release and on Curzon Home Cinema from 4 August, and then released on DVD and Blu-Ray 10 days later.