The Williams Team faces challenges ahead of Las Vegas after massive damage in Brazil – Words from James Vowles
The 2024 season for Williams has been difficult to define: with just 17 points scored, the team has alternated between impressive results and underwhelming performances across many race weekends. However, the financial struggles that have plagued Williams for years have become an even greater concern, exacerbated by the numerous—and at times excessive—incidents involving the FW46 drivers.
The most recent episode of this long-running saga unfolded in São Paulo, Brazil, where Alexander Albon suffered a heavy crash. Despite an extraordinary qualifying session that saw him reach Q3, Albon was unable to take part in the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto also suffered severe damage during both qualifying and the race.
The many incidents—sometimes the result of driver errors or the challenge of pushing the FW46 to its limits—have not been limited to recent races. Earlier in the season, Logan Sargeant also frequently found his Williams in the barriers. The Brazilian GP, which ended with a double DNF and both cars heavily damaged, marked another painful moment for James Vowles, Williams’ Team Principal. Speaking candidly, he described the weekend as one of the most challenging of his career: ” It was undoubtedly the most brutal weekend of my career. Look at me—I stayed until the end to watch the race despite both cars being destroyed. We do not give up, and we study our rivals until the very end “.
Clearly disappointed, Vowles continued:”No team on the grid could withstand five serious accidents across two race weekends. Quite simply, the amount of spare parts we have is not enough to sustain such a load. I have high hopes for Las Vegas because we were quick there last year, and I’m confident we have a car that can perform well in those conditions. So, we’ll do our best to field two cars with the best possible specifications and sufficient spare parts “.
Risk of missing the Las Vegas GP?
The financial strain of replacing the many damaged components—many beyond repair—on Albon and Colapinto’s cars has further fueled speculation. Rumors circulated within the paddock that Williams might skip the Las Vegas GP, the next stop on the 2024 calendar. However, Lawrence Barretto recently debunked these claims:
“I just spoke with Williams, and they assured me there’s no truth to the rumors that they will miss Las Vegas due to the extensive damage from the three incidents in Brazil”.
Similarly, British motorsports commentator Will Buxton addressed the topic: “It seems James Vowles’ honest comments about the ripple effects of the Brazilian GP have been blown out of proportion in recent days. The team will not skip Las Vegas, and both cars will be on the grid.”
Currently, Williams sits in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship, having been overtaken by Alpine following a double podium finish for Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in São Paulo. With significant ground to cover, the team faces an uphill battle to secure a respectable finish to the season. Their aim: to complete the championship with both cars on track and—most importantly—without further incidents.
Photo: Williams Racing