Williams sporting director Sven Smeets has hailed the team's herculean effort to rebuild two wrecked cars in time for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, calling it a testament to what the Grove-based squad “is made of.”
The team's massive undertaking came in the wake of its disastrous weekend at Interlagos, Sao Paulo last time out.
Williams troubles in Brazil began during qualifying, when both Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto suffered crashes, leaving only the latter's FW46 repaired in time for the race.
However, the young Argentine's involvement in another major accident during the Grand Prix compounded the team's woes, resulting in two heavily damaged machines and a daunting rebuild ahead.
With just three weeks to prepare for the Las Vegas race, Williams faced huge logistical and technical hurdles.
First, the damaged cars had to be transported back to the team's base I the UK. There, mechanics meticulously inspected each part, salvaging reusable components and manufacturing replacements for those beyond repair.
The team's commitment was nothing short of extraordinary. For five consecutive days, the Grove factory buzzed with tireless activity as Williams fought to meet an unrelenting deadline.
Against the odds, the cars were rebuilt and shipped to the US in time for this weekend's round of racing in Vegas, the first event of the F1 season's closing triple header.
Williams' feat is not just a story of resilience – it's a demonstration of the indomitable spirit of a team determined to rise above adversity, ready to take on the challenges of Vegas with renewed purpose.
“Brazil was one of the toughest weekends we have ever experienced,” admitted Smeets. “The team has shown immense resilience and teamwork over these past few weeks.
“Everybody has worked day and night to get us back into a good position for the last three races of the season. “It shows what this team is made of.”
Despite the setbacks, Smeets remains optimistic about the team's prospects in Las Vegas.
“We are looking forward to racing in Las Vegas where we should be competitive,” the Belgian added. “It's a track that gives plenty of opportunities, and we are sure that both drivers will be very motivated to fight for points.”
Williams drivers are both eager to put Brazil in the rearview mirror and steer Williams back into top-ten contention.
“We have an incredible opportunity to come back fighting in Vegas and bounce back from one of the toughest weekends we've ever experienced at Williams during my time here,” commented Albon.
“We can showcase to the world and our rivals just how strong we are as a team and what we're capable of, not only in the next three races but also in the future.
“I'm more motivated and driven than ever; I want to give back to this team and show my thanks for all their hard work by fighting for points in Vegas. This will be our best opportunity to do so, so let's see what we can achieve.”
“I'm only six races in but I have so much confidence and trust in this team and the people around me,” added Colapinto.
“We still have three races left with plenty of opportunities to fight for points starting with Vegas. “We'll keep pushing as hard as we can until the flag is checked in Abu Dhabi as anything is possible.”
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