Williams to pursue court fight over 'false' media claims

Williams boss James Vowles has confirmed that the team intend to fight "false claims" in the UK media in a court of law. 

Last week, it was reported by The Guardian that the team and its parent company Dorilton Capital, were engaged in a dispute with a former executive, Claudia Schwarz who was dismissed from her position in 2022.

She has alleged in court filings that this was done after she raised concerns about sexist and racist treatment. 

Schwarz also raised doubts about the true ownership situation of the team, something Williams has firmly contested. 

In turn, a counter-claim against Schwarz by Dorilton Capital claims that the former chief marketing officer had filed false expenses and fees totalling $6.9 million USD. It is also claimed that Schwarz and former CEO of the race team's holding company Darren Fultz had an "inappropriate relationship" with Fultz, as per The Guardian, "looking the other way on the alleged fraud." 

Responding to the article for the first time, Williams team principal Vowles confirmed that the team would fight the "false" claims "in a court of law."

"So, the first thing on that, very clearly, first of all, it's a legal case, and a complex legal case," Vowles told Sky Sports F1. 

"There is not a lot I can talk about publicly, but those claims are false for a start, and they will be fought in a court of law, which is where they should be at this point in time. 

"They are misleading. 

"With the team, the team is comfortable; they know who we are, what we stand for as our values, and none of that has changed."