The departure of the Williams family from Formula 1 was "inevitable" after launching the search for new investment, Claire Williams admits.

After revealing a 13m loss for 2019 back in May, the historic British team triggered the 'formal sale process' which culminated in the deal with American investment firm Dorilton Capital last month.

A week later, the Williams family ended their involvement after 43 years following the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

And now Claire Williams has revealed the double-whammy which led to the ultimate decision to sell.

“We had exhausted every avenue open to us,” she said speaking with The Telegraph newspaper.

“I did think, coming into this year, that we had turned a corner. We had new title partners [Rokit], who were promising the earth. Then that collapsed, and coronavirus hit. It was game over.

“There was no coming back from that. If those two things hadn’t happened, we would have been OK.”

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Though Williams had suggested the search for new funds could be limited to an investment in the team as it was, there was a feeling a full takeover was the only outcome.

"We saw that fairly early on, if I’m honest, considering the types of organisations that would want to invest in something like this. They’re going to want full control," she added.

“It was an inevitable conclusion.”

Following the family exit, the new owners installed Williams managing director Simon Roberts into the position of acting team principal.

"We were all surprised at the speed of the sale," he commented last weekend at Mugello. "We didn’t see that coming at all.

"After that, I wasn’t surprised, really, that Claire stepped down. I’m saddened by it, I really wish she could’ve stayed but I understand why she feels that’s the right thing to do.

"Everybody’s going to miss her loads and we all just wish her and her family well," he added. "She’s done a great job getting us here.

"She got us through the Concorde [Agreement], the sale and all that. We just want to do the right thing now for Frank and her and keep the spirit and keep it moving forward and start working with our new owners."

The former McLaren and Force India COO himself only joined the team back in June and admitted his promotion was unexpected.

However, he isn't thinking about becoming the team boss on a full-time basis.

"I haven’t discussed it at all," he said. "I’ve met the new owners, they’re great, but that’s not really the focus.

"The focus is on keeping stability in the team, working with everybody who’s here and just start to move it forward.

"That [the position] is kind of secondary really. We haven’t discussed it at all."