Williams half-year F1 finances reflect poor track showing

The Williams Formula One team posted a loss of £16.8 million (roughly R304,921,010) in the six months to end-June compared to a previous profit of £0.2 million (roughly R3,631,481), reflecting the struggling former champions' plunging track performance.

Williams, with Polish driver Robert Kubica and British rookie George Russell, are last in the championship with just one point from 14 of 21 races this season.

In 2018, the sport's third most successful team in terms of race wins, finished 10th after ending 2017 fifth overall.

Williams said the Formula One operation generated revenue of £46.3 million (roughly R839,604,200) compared to £60.7 million (roughly R1,100,286,421) in the same period of 2018.

The overall group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) loss widened to £18.8 million (roughly R340,780,637) from £2.7 million (roughly R48,984,646).

The company's Advanced Engineering arm increased revenue to £30.9 million (roughly R560,821,203) from a previous £21.5 million (roughly R390,172,255).

“The Formula One financial results primarily reflect our finishing position in last year's constructors' championship and the consequent reduction in prize money,” said group CEO Mike O'Driscoll in a statement.

“There was also an overall reduction in partnership income compared to the first half of 2018.”

O'Driscoll said there were signs of improvement, with continued interest from potential partners. Talks with Formula One and commercial rights holders Liberty Media also held out hope of more equal competition in 2021.

“Although we continue to face challenges in a very dynamic environment, we currently believe the majority of the impact on EBITDA for the full year has already been captured in these interim results,” said O'Driscoll.