Franco Colapinto emerged unscathed from a terrifying crash during Q2 of the qualifying session of the Las Vegas Grand Prixbut the incident left Williams with a new mountain of repairs after recent setbacks in Brazil.
A Thrilling Moment at Turn 15
The Argentine rookie was aiming for a place in Q3 when disaster struck on his final fast lap. As Colapinto approached the Turn 15he misjudged his trajectory, turning too early. Realizing his mistake, he briefly corrected before re-engaging—but it was too late. Its left front wheel hit the inside walltriggering a chain reaction.
The initial impact caused Colapinto's car to skid toward the outside wall with brutal force. On-board footage captured the violence of the crash, with his head visibly shaken despite the cockpit's protective measures. Stripped of all four wheels, the Williams slid helplessly across the track, leaving debris on the racing line until coming to a stop.
“I’m fine,” Colapinto assures amidst Chaos
In a moment of relief, Colapinto quickly radioed his team to confirm he was not injured. The rookie got out of his damaged car and hit the Halo out of frustration, signaling his disappointment at the incident which ended his hopes of qualifying.
A Long Delay for Repairs
The crash caused significant damage to circuit barriersforcing the FIA to suspend the session for repairs. Debris littered the circuit, and the safety team was tasked with restoring the integrity of the barriers.
The FIA released a statement confirming the delay:
“There is a lot of debris on the track and some potential barrier repairs needed. The circuit operations team is currently working on this.”
Williams' Repair Nightmare Continues
The crash is another blow for the Williams team, already struggling with a limited supply of spare parts following a series of costly accidents in Brazil. Colapinto's crashed car adds to the logistical and operational pressure on the team as it struggles to remain competitive in the final races of the season.
Williams now faces a race against time to rebuild the car before the Las Vegas Grand Prix, an unenviable challenge given the extent of the damage.
A Frustrating Reverse for Colapinto
The rookie's frustration was evident as he left the scene. Colapinto had shown promise throughout the weekend, and this incident marked a disappointing end to what could have been a strong qualifying session.
Despite the crash, Colapinto's resilience and safety protocols allowed the incident to end without serious injury. However, the accident highlighted the risks of Las Vegas' high-speed setup and the slim margins of modern Formula 1.
What's next for Williams and Colapinto?
The Williams team now faces a critical repair effort to get Colapinto back on the grid. With the race approaching, the team must dig deep into its already depleted resources to ensure a competitive performance.
For Colapinto, the focus will be on regaining his composure and delivering a strong performance in Sunday's race—an opportunity to make up for it after a heartbreaking qualifying session in Sin City.
