The Argentine Franco Colapinto is at risk of missing the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to the severity of his crash during qualifying. Williams: “Franco’s health is our priority.”
The nightmares continue at Grove, home of the British team Williams; the squad seems unable to find peace. After a period of near redemption, during which the team scored almost twenty points and appeared to be breathing easier, everything was wiped away in Brazil, with both cars needing repairs to be race-ready ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
It was during qualifying that the team and Franco Colapinto received a bitter blow, as the Argentine driver hit the inside wall at Turn 16 during Q2, crashing into the barriers on the opposite side of the track. Naturally, the budget cap situation for Williams has become more complicated.
Colapinto doesn’t appear to have sustained any physical injuries from the crash, but the team, led by James Vowles, prefers to have him undergo medical checks to confirm his fitness to race tomorrow. Should the medical center clear him to participate, Colapinto will start from 14th on the grid, while his teammate, Alex Albon, who was eliminated in Q1, will line up in 18th position for the Las Vegas GP.
““During qualifying, Franco experienced a significant impact of over 50G, which required a medical assessment. An impact of this magnitude is obviously serious and severe, and it will need to be re-evaluated tomorrow to determine if he is fit to race. Franco’s health is our priority, and we are pleased that, aside from this, he is doing well. We will provide further updates as soon as possible,” Williams said in an official statement, postponing the announcement of Colapinto’s participation in the Las Vegas Grand Prix to tomorrow.
Photo: Williams Racing, Formula 1.