Claire Williams (L) is the daughter of team principal and founder Sir Frank Williams Formula One team Williams' deputy team principal Claire Williams believes her role can change perceptions about the sport being male dominated. Williams, daughter of team owner Frank, is keen to show F1 in a female friendly light after being appointed last week.
The 36-year-old is the second high profile female to be appointed in F1 following Monisha Kaltenborn, who is the current team principal at Sauber.
"Formula One may be perceived as being male-dominated, but those perceptions are being broken down now," Williams told BBC Radio Four.
"Sauber has a female team principal, and now I've been put in this position, I think those traditional preconceptions of Formula One are breaking down a bit more."
Claire has held the role of director of marketing and communications for the past year, and will continue in the commercial role even though her deputy team principal duties started at the Malaysian Grand Prix. She will work closely with her 70-year old father in the day-to-day running of the team.
"We'll have to wait and see how I do in the role, but I would like to think I will do a good job for the team,” she noted, “Williams' USP is that we're renowned as a family team, so it's important we retain that family element. Putting me in this role, I think, is a good thing for the team and for the sport.”