The Las Vegas GP begins with a big question mark at Fanta F1: will Franco Colapinto be on the grid? The young Argentine talent from Williams was the protagonist of a scary accident at the end of Q2 of the qualifications, when a mistake at Turn 16 caused him to crash violently into the barriers. The impact, with an impressive force of over 50G, destroyed his Williams FW46, forcing the FIA to request further medical checks. Despite walking out on his own two feet and reassuring the team over the radio with an “I’m OK,” the driver was taken to hospital for further checks.
Williams Crisis: A Never-Ending Nightmare
For Williams, Colapinto's crash is yet another blow in an already complicated period. It is the third consecutive weekend in which the Grove team has had to deal with seriously damaged cars. Repairing a destroyed car like Colapinto's is not only a technical challenge, but also an economic one, in a context in which the budget cap limits any intervention. Furthermore, the shortage of spare parts could force the team to consider a pit lane start, if they are unable to repair the chassis in time.
Williams officially commented on the incident with a note in which he underlines the importance of the impact and the unknown about Franco's conditions:
“During qualifying Franco suffered a significant impact of over 50G, which required a medical check. An impact of this magnitude is obviously significant and serious and will need to be reassessed tomorrow before we know if he will be able to race. Franco’s health is the only thing that matters and we are happy that he is doing well. We will provide further updates when we can.”
Williams' mechanics are once again forced to work extra night shifts, but the problem goes beyond the single accident: the pressure on the production of new parts and the associated costs, together with the budget cap, are putting a strain on the team's resources.
Colapinto accident, the possible implications for Fanta F1
Colapinto's possible forfeit would have immediate repercussions on Fanta F1. According to the rules, a driver who does not start a race suffers a penalty of -10 points, regardless of the causes. This data could penalize many players who bet on him, but his case will not be considered among the DNF (retirements in competition), thus excluding him from the calculation of the number of retirements.
Colapinto, who qualified a fantastic 14th on his debut in Las Vegas, would start from the seventh row. However, his participation will only be decided after the outcome of his medical tests. But above all, the team will also have to evaluate whether the FW46 will be in condition to return to the track, an unknown that makes the weekend even more uncertain.
All eyes of the Fanta-managers remain fixed on the updates, which will arrive in the next few hours, to understand the fate of the Argentine driver and the possible impact on Fanta F1.
