Parr: I am responsible and offered to resign
3 May, 2011
Williams CEO Adam Parr offered to resign his position
May.3 (PVM) In the aftermath of the resignations of Williams technical director Sam Michael and chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson, the team’s CEO Adam Parr has revealed that he too tendered his resignation but was turned down by top management.
Parr with Frank Williams and Patrick Head
During a media teleconference Parr revealed, “I tendered my resignation to Frank (Williams), Patrick (Head) and Toto (Wolff). I’m responsible and I took the responsibility to do whatever they wanted to do.”
Williams have a proud history in Formula 1 having won 9 constructor’s world championships, seven driver’s titles and notched up 113 Grand Prix wins since their debut at the 1978 Argentine GP.
However the start of 2011 season has been the worst in their history, the team suffering four retirements in the first two races and their drivers Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado have been forced to mingle at the wrong end of the field.
Parr with Sam Michael
Bad results have invariably impacted negatively on recently listed Williams shares. YallaF1.com reported last month that the share price of Williams F1 team had plummeted and at the time the price was 27% lower than the initial offering.
Sentiment in the paddock suggested that Michael was being lined up as the fall guy, while the one to blame was really Parr, who many feel is out of his depth leading a team to fight for the F1 world championship.
When Parr was asked if Williams team bosses refused to accept his offer to resign, he replied, “They did, yes. But that does not mean I don’t feel responsible for what happened. I have addressed the whole factory and explained that I am responsible and I have apologised for my part in this failure.”
Related posts:
- Michael and Tomlinson resign from Williams
- Williams poised for major staff changes
- Sam Michael axe rumours not denied
- Adam Parr earmarked for FOTA chairman
- Williams’ Parr tours US GP venue in Texas
