F1 star at risk of MISSING Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 star at risk of MISSING Las Vegas Grand Prix as team issue official statement

A Williams Formula 1 driver, Franco Colapinto, faces uncertainty over his participation in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following a significant crash during qualifying.

The team has issued an official statement confirming that Colapinto’s fitness to race will depend on medical evaluations.

The weekend has already been challenging for Williams. Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto both had disappointing qualifying sessions, with neither advancing past Q2.

Albon struggled with pace, partly due to a fuel system issue during Friday’s practice, and is set to start the race from P18.

This marks another setback for Albon, who also missed the Brazilian Grand Prix due to technical problems.

Colapinto’s crash, however, was the most alarming moment of the session. While attempting to improve his lap time in Q2, the Argentine clipped the inside wall at Turn 16, sending his car into the barriers.

The impact caused extensive damage to the car and scattered debris across the track.

Despite the crash, Colapinto emerged from the wreck seemingly unharmed, though subsequent checks revealed he had sustained an impact of over 50G.

In their statement, Williams confirmed the severity of the crash and outlined the steps needed to determine whether Colapinto can race.

The team emphasized that the driver’s health remains their top priority, noting that further medical evaluations will be conducted on Saturday.

“An impact of this magnitude is obviously significant and severe,” the statement read.

“Franco will need to be evaluated again tomorrow before we will know if he is clear to race.”

The team reassured fans that Colapinto’s condition appears stable but acknowledged that there is a risk he may be ruled out of the race. They pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The situation raises questions about whether Williams would be able to replace Colapinto if he is unable to compete.

According to the 2024 Formula One Sporting Regulations, outlined in Article 32, driver changes are permitted under specific conditions.

Article 32.2a allows driver substitutions before qualifying, provided the change receives approval from the stewards.

However, since qualifying has already taken place, this provision does not apply.

There is another clause in Article 32.2 that allows for changes under “force majeure” circumstances, but these are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the governing body.

Whether Colapinto’s situation would qualify under this provision remains unclear.

If Williams cannot field a replacement, they may be forced to run only one car in the race.

This incident highlights the risks and challenges drivers face in Formula 1, as well as the importance of safety protocols.

For now, Colapinto’s participation in the Las Vegas Grand Prix hangs in the balance, with the team and fans awaiting further updates on his condition.