F1 icon reveals FURY over controversial driver behaviour

Ann Bradshaw and Lance Stroll at Williams in 2018 — Photo: © IMAGO

GPFans Exclusive

F1 icon reveals FURY over controversial driver behaviour

Ann Bradshaw was a pioneer in F1, most notably acting as a formidable press officer with Williams during the 1980s and 1990s

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 1 March 2025 14:57

GPFans sprak voor dit artikel exclusief met de betrokkenen

Formula 1 PR legend Ann Bradshaw has had to deal with an array of iconic drivers during her time in the sport and in an exclusive conversation with GPFans, opened up on dealing with the stars of the paddock throughout the years.

After joining Williams F1 team in 1985, Bradshaw carried out her press duties during the team's golden years, working with some of the sport's biggest names and more recently, acted as Lance Stroll's PR manager in 2017.

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Acting as press officer for Frank Williams' F1 team for more than a decade, Bradshaw shared a professional environment with the likes of Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve as they all chased championship success.

During her tenure with the team, Williams secured four driver's titles and six constructors' victories, with the last being Hill in 1996.

Bradshaw left her role as press officer at the end of 1996, following reigning champion Hill to Arrows.

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Ann Bradshaw delivers warning to young F1 hopefuls

Speaking to Jim Kimberley exclusively on behalf of GPFans, the PR legend detailed her advice to up and coming motorsport professionals aiming to make it to F1.

"Don't take yourself seriously... I see too many people who wander around paddocks with a bit of plastic around their neck and think that they are important.

"You're not. You're working in a sport; you're very lucky to go around the world, see different places, be involved hopefully in a sport you love. Though I do query whether that many people in the paddock who come in, who just find themselves in an F1 job, really love the sport. Well, they don't like motorsports; I don't think because they don't even realize that there's anything outside of F1.

"They don't realize that the F1 driver does not start in F1. I do find their lack of knowledge of the sport sad. But that's it. If you put me in a horse racing situation, I'd have no idea. But no, I think you just have to realize that you're just there to do a job. The stars are the drivers; you're there to support them, to make sure you get the best possible coverage for your team."

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Bradshaw continued to detail the struggles she encountered in her past role, dealing with drivers who would prefer not to partake in the ever-growing media duties.

"But don't think that just because you're in a Formula 1 paddock, you're important. I have seen some PR people I want to smack sometimes because they let the drivers get away with murder. The driver said, 'I don't want to do that.' Well, you tell them that no, if you want to be paid your millions, get on and do it. Don't be rude to people or say, 'I'm not going to do that because you know, that's sorry, this is what you've signed up for.'"

"Now, there are a few in there I think need a few words of advice about, but there are some lovely ones, you know. I've seen some people who go the extra mile; they look after the media, and the media have a tough job. You know, media, God, the bane of your life, but they're doing a job that, without them, you don't get motor racing because your sponsors want to see their names and their images worldwide.

"So, you've got to realize you've got to coexist and do everything you can to help them. I like that a lot. I take a lot of what you answer on board quite often, and I really appreciate it."

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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Max Verstappen Ferrari Aston Martin Williams Lance Stroll Jacques Villeneuve