Williams rookie Franco Colapinto has been given the green light to compete in tonight’s Las Vegas Grand Prix after a dramatic crash in qualifying left his FW46 car in ruins.
The Argentinian's incident occurred at Turn 16 when he clipped the inside wall, sending his car into the barriers with an impact exceeding 50G.
Despite the severity of the crash, the 21-year-old reported that he was okay and underwent extensive medical evaluations.
Initial checks at the circuit's medical center were followed by additional tests on race morning to rule out any concussion symptoms. With no issues detected, Williams confirmed Colapinto’s clearance to race
"Following Franco’s incident in Qualifying yesterday, he has undergone a thorough follow-up evaluation from the event medical team today and has been cleared to race in this evening’s Las Vegas Grand Prix,” read a statement from the British outfit.
“Franco’s health is our main priority, and we are relieved that he is well enough to race following such a significant incident. We thank the medical staff for prioritising Franco’s health and wellbeing and for the excellent care he received.”
Colapinto’s crash destroyed all corners of his car, forcing the Williams mechanics to work overnight to rebuild the FW46 on the basis of a new chassis. The team also replaced the gearbox—his sixth of the season, exceeding the allowed four—and implemented setup changes, relegating Colapinto to a pitlane start.
Acknowledging the team’s relentless effort, Williams added:
"We are extremely thankful to our incredible garage team for their hard work overnight to repair Franco’s car and our fans and partners for their continued support. We have taken the opportunity to make some set-up changes during the repair and, as a result, Franco will start the race from the pitlane.”
The incident adds to a challenging season for Williams, who have faced numerous setbacks, including accidents for both drivers in Brazil.
The team’s ability to repair Colapinto’s car in time for the race is a testament to their dedication and expertise, but concerns remain about the impact on their spare parts pool for the upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Alex Albon, Colapinto’s teammate, will start 17th on the grid after his Q1 session was compromised by traffic.
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