Editing Williams Racing (section)

===Return to Renault engines (2012–2013)===
{{see also|Renault in Formula One}}

====2012–2013 seasons====
[[File:Valtteri Bottas 2012 Malaysia FP1 2.jpg|thumb|[[Valtteri Bottas]], the team's {{F1|2012}} reserve driver, participated in 15 free practice sessions including at the {{F1 GP|2012|Malaysian}} then was promoted to a race seat for the {{F1|2013}} season.|left]]
On 4 July 2011, Williams announced they would be reuniting with engine-supplier Renault who were to supply the team's engines from 2012 onwards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/1859 |title=Williams Renault Legendary Partnership Revived for 2012 |work=[[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]] Williams |publisher=Williams F1 |date=4 July 2011 |access-date=4 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707100129/http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/1859 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}</ref> On 1 December 2011, it was confirmed that Maldonado would be retained for the 2012 season, along with reserve driver [[Valtteri Bottas]], who took part in 15 Friday practice sessions.<ref name="MAL & BOT">{{cite news|url=http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/2028 |title=Pastor Maldonado Confirmed for 2012 with Valtteri Bottas as Reserve Driver |work=Williams F1 |publisher=Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203214900/http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/2028 |archive-date=3 December 2011 }}</ref> In January 2012, it was confirmed that Bruno Senna would be the driver to partner Maldonado, effectively ending Rubens Barrichello's F1 career.

[[File:Valtteri Bottas 2013 Malaysia FP1.jpg|thumb|[[Valtteri Bottas]] at the [[2013 Malaysian Grand Prix]]]]Prior to the 2012 season, Patrick Head moved from the Williams F1 team to Williams Hybrid Power Limited, another subsidiary of Williams Grand Prix Holdings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.williamsf1.com/news/view/2035 |title=Patrick Head Steps Down from WGPH Board of Directors |work=Williams |publisher=Williams F1 |date=31 December 2011 |access-date=4 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103215105/http://www.williamsf1.com/news/view/2035 |archive-date=3 January 2012 }}</ref> The team also announced that its relationship with AT&T ended by mutual agreement, and there were negotiations with another telecommunications company for team's title sponsorship.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-racing-williams-idUKTRE8030OE20120104|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101213918/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-racing-williams-idUKTRE8030OE20120104|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 January 2016|title=The Williams Formula One team are seeking a new title sponsor after the termination of their agreement with U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T|work=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Thomson Reuters]]|first=Alan|last=Baldwin|date=4 January 2012|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> At the [[2012 Spanish Grand Prix]], Pastor Maldonado took his only Grand Prix victory, which was also Williams's first race victory since [[2004 Brazilian Grand Prix]]. Around 90 minutes after celebrating this win, a fire broke out in the garage of the Williams team, damaging the FW34 of [[Bruno Senna]] and leaving several injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9262938/Spanish-Grand-Prix-2012-Pastor-Maldonado-holds-off-Fernando-Alonso-to-claim-historic-win-for-Williams.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9262938/Spanish-Grand-Prix-2012-Pastor-Maldonado-holds-off-Fernando-Alonso-to-claim-historic-win-for-Williams.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spanish Grand Prix 2012: Pastor Maldonado holds off Fernando Alonso to claim historic win for Williams|date=13 May 2012|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=5 February 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The team eventually achieved eighth position in the Formula One World Constructors' Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/season/50767.html?template=standings|title=Formula 1 Drivers & Constructors Standings – FIA Formula One World Championship 2012 – ESPN.co.uk|work=ESPN UK|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>

[[Claire Williams]], the daughter of team principal Frank Williams, was appointed deputy principal in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Claire Williams becomes deputy principal|url=http://www.supersport.com/motorsport/formula1/news/130327/Claire_Williams_becomes_deputy_principal|website=Supersport.com|access-date=25 June 2015}}</ref> Maldonado was retained by the team for {{F1|2013}} and was joined by Bottas, promoted from his role as test driver.<ref name="2013 drivers">{{cite news|last=Elizalde|first=Pablo|title=Williams confirms Valtteri Bottas and Pastor Maldonado for 2013|publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]]|work=[[Autosport]]|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104630|date=28 November 2012|access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref> The team struggled throughout the season, despite a good qualifying session at the [[2013 Canadian Grand Prix|Canadian Grand Prix]] and a place in the top 10 at the [[2013 United States Grand Prix|United States Grand Prix]], scoring only five points in the World Constructors' Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/championship/teams/Williams.html |title=Teams & Drivers – Williams |publisher=Formula1.com |access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>

While Williams enjoyed a victory in the 2012 season and occasional points finishes, they did not reach the same heights as was achieved during their domination of Formula One during the 1990s. This, combined with an absolutely dismal 2013 season, prompted Williams to look for a new engine supplier from the 2014 season onwards.