The 2024 Components 1 São Paulo Grand Prix was, within the phrases of Williams Workforce Principal James Vowles, one of many “lowest moments” you may really feel within the sport.
Each Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto suffered laborious crashes in qualifying, which was moved to Sunday forward of the race itself resulting from moist circumstances in São Paulo. Whereas Albon’s shunt in Q3 prevented him from beginning the race, the crew received Colapinto’s FW46 prepared in time to begin the race.
However Colapinto crashed once more within the moist circumstances, forcing the crew to work lengthy into the nights again at their Grove manufacturing unit to get each automobiles rebuilt for this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. The crew even shared an unbelievable video of the work they put in to rebuild each autos, a not-too-subtle reply to rumors that they might be unable to area each automobiles in Las Vegas.
Nevertheless, whereas each Albon and Colapinto had been capable of begin the week in Las Vegas, there may be doubt whether or not each drivers will take to the grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night time. Colapinto is recovering after a large shunt throughout qualifying, as he clipped an inside barrier earlier than careening into the outer protecting fence:
Colapinto was capable of climb out of the FW46 after reporting that he was okay, and Vowles offered a video replace shortly afterward indicating that the precedence was Colapinto’s well being:
Vowles additionally famous that the affect was “over 50G,” and that the motive force would must be reevaluated on Saturday to be cleared to race.
The crew additionally launched this transient assertion early Saturday morning”
“Throughout Qualifying Franco sustained a big affect of over 50G, requiring a medical examine up. An affect of this magnitude is clearly important and extreme and he’ll must be evaluated once more tomorrow earlier than we are going to know whether or not he’s clear to race. Franco’s well being is all that issues and we’re glad he’s in any other case okay. We are going to present additional updates once we can.”
Fortunately Colapinto was launched from the medical heart, and right here is hoping he can take to the grid on Saturday night time in Las Vegas.
Replace: The crew introduced late Saturday night time that Colapinto has been cleared to race:
Workforce assertion – Franco to race in Las Vegas
Following Franco’s incident in Qualifying yesterday, he has undergone a radical follow-up analysis from the occasion medical crew at present and has been cleared to race on this night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Franco’s well being is our predominant… pic.twitter.com/WDP2Yc2ZOz— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) November 23, 2024