After the already complicated episodes of the Mexican GP, Williams faced another weekend to forget in Brazil. In a race marked by extreme weather conditions and continuous twists and turns, the Grove team saw both cars end up in the barriers, worsening an already precarious situation. The consequences of this series of incidents go far beyond the result on the track: with a shortage of spare parts and a budget cap already under pressure, Williams now finds itself dealing with a crisis that could compromise even the final three races of the season.
Disastrous Qualifying: Albon and Colapinto Hit the Wall
Williams' black weekend began already during the qualifications which took place on Sunday morning due to difficult weather conditions. Alex Albon, after a strong performance in free practice, crashed violently into the barriers in Q3. The accident caused such serious damage that the team was forced to withdraw from the race a few hours later. “I can only feel sorry for the team,” said Albon. “The damage was enormous and it puts us in a difficult position for the next races.”
Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant, also had a complicated weekend. The Argentine lost control of his car in Q1, crashing into the barriers. Despite the mechanics' hard work to get him back on track in time for the race, the driver did not manage to see the checkered flag, further increasing the damage count.
Problems in the race: a double KO that weighs on the team
Williams’ hopes of redemption were definitively extinguished in the race. Colapinto, who had already suffered an accident in qualifying, went off the track on lap 32 during the Safety Car, ending up against the wall. “I feel sorry for the team, they did an extraordinary job to get me back on track,” explained the Argentine. “Unfortunately I lost control on a trickle of water, an accident that should not have happened.”
Albon, who had already suffered a hard blow in qualifying, watched the race from the pit lane, aware of the difficult work that awaits the team in the upcoming events.
Big Bill and Counted Pieces: Williams' Dilemma
With five accidents in two races between Mexico and Brazil, Williams is now facing a financial and logistical crisis. Team principal James Vowles has made no secret of his concern over the lack of spare parts, admitting that “there is no team that can safely deal with five serious accidents in two consecutive GPs”. The problem is made even more complex by considering the constraint imposed by the budget cap, which forces the team to deal with limited resources.
A season that risks compromising the future
The current situation after Brazil is putting Williams in difficulty for the last races of the season, with three events still to go and just a few weeks to get the cars back together. The team's goal, after slipping to ninth place in the Constructors' Championship, overtaken by Alpine, is now to close the season in the best possible way and prepare for a 2025 that promises to be equally challenging.
Despite the chaos, Vowles assured that the team will do everything it can to return to competition: “We have to give it our all and look forward to 2025 and 2026. It’s about laying the right foundations for the future.”
The toll, however, is heavy: with a total of over 2,3 million euros in damages in the Interlagos weekend alone, Williams finds itself having to face a real race against time to save the end of the season and preserve as many resources as possible in view of the next championship.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
