Albon opts for pitlane start for Austrian GP Sprint

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Alex Albon will be forced to start Saturday’s Austrian Grand Prix Sprint event from the pit lane after the Williams team opted for a set-up change on the Anglo-Thai racer’s FW46.

Friday’s qualifying didn't go according to plan for Albon. While one Williams car did manage to reach Q2, it was teammate Logan Sargeant, not Albon, who progressed.

“I regret not being a bit more extreme with my changes from FP1 to Sprint Qualifying, but we’ll make some changes and try to get more out of it tomorrow,” commented Albon.

Those changes are now effective, but they required Williams to pull Albon’s car out of parc fermé which automatically triggers a pitlane start as the sporting rules dictate.

“The Williams Racing Team has made changes to the set-up of car number 23 [Albon] with the approval of the FIA technical delegate following a written request,” read a note from FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.

“Therefore, car number 23 should now be required to start from the pit lane according to Article 40.9 of the 2024 Formula One Sporting Regulations.”

Read also: Harman headlines Williams' group of new leading technical hires

“With only one Free Practice session, having the car in the right window for Sprint Qualifying was always going to be tricky,” commented Williams sporting director Sven Smeets.

“Unfortunately, Alex struggled with the balance of his car and didn’t make it out of SQ1. Logan did a good job and got into SQ2 with a clean and decent last push lap. In SQ2, we knew he had to give it his all to gain some places on the grid but unfortunately couldn't get it all lined up and his lap was deleted.

"Nevertheless, he will be in a good position tomorrow to fight and look out for opportunities. With Alex, we’ll make some changes to the setup after the Sprint Race, ahead of Qualifying, and will use the Sprint to gather valuable information for the Grand Prix on Sunday.”

This pit lane start is inevitably a gamble that will force Albon to fight his way through the field from the back, but it reflects Williams' urgency to get its leading driver back on pace and potentially challenge for points on Sunday.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.