Frank Williams, founder and former boss of a team that bore his name and that still ranks as one of the most dominant and successful in the history of Formula One, died Sunday at the age of 79.
The sport's chief executive Stefano Domenicali, a former boss of rivals Ferrari, paid tribute to the Englishman and said the F1 family had lost a "much loved and respected member".
Williams had been paralyzed since 1986 when, at the age of 43, his rental car crashed as he was speeding away from the Le Castellet circuit in the south of France where his team was testing.
One of the longest-lived quadriplegics, he responded to the physical obstacles by steering his team to ever greater success as he watched from his wheelchair in the team garage.
In 2012 he handed over day-to-day running of the team to daughter Claire, even if she was always officially deputy-principal.
He was admitted to hospital Friday and the British-based team said he "passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his family".
Williams were sold to US-based Dorilton Capital last year and the family are no longer involved.
Under his leadership, the team won nine constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, most recently with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1997, and 114 grands prix - the last in 2012.
Only Ferrari have won more constructors' titles.
Australian Alan Jones, in 1980, was the first to win a drivers' title in a Williams and he was followed by Finland's Keke Rosberg in 1982.