F1 – 17 accidents in 24 Grands Prix: Williams’ dark year in pictures

1) Australia, Free Practice 1

Driver involved: Alexander Albon
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the car at the exit of turn 6

Williams’ first crash in 2024 is to be blamed on Alexander Albon in Australia, guilty of an error at the exit of turn 6. The Thai pulverized his car and damaged its chassis. Problem: at the start of the season, the British team did not have a replacement chassis, due to lack of time and resources to design a third. A risk that is costly, since Williams decides to sacrifice Logan Sargeant for the rest of the weekend in order to “offer” his car to Alexander Albon. He will finish 11th, close to the points.

2) Japan, Free Practice 1

Driver involved: Logan Sargeant
Cause of the accident: Wheels within the hour at the exit of turn 7

Just two weeks after Alexander Albon’s crash in Melbourne, it was Logan Sargeant’s turn to crash his Williams into a wall of tires during Free Practice 1 at Suzuka. The American, forced to stay on the sidelines in Australia, was too optimistic at the exit of turn 7 and lost control of his FW46 by putting his wheels on the grass, before ending his session against the barrier.

3) Japan, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Alexander Albon (with Daniel Ricciardo)
Cause of the accident: Clash with Daniel Ricciardo in the first round

Williams’ Japanese ordeal continued on Sunday: two days after Logan Sargeant’s accident, Alexander Albon retired on the first lap after a collision with Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian squeezed the Thai off the track until he made contact, the Williams driver unable to avoid either the Racing Bulls or the wall of tires at the entrance to turn 3…

4) Miami, Grand Prix

Driver involved: Logan Sargeant (with Kevin Magnussen)
Cause of the accident: Hit by Kevin Magnussen at turn 2

At home, Logan Sargeant was keen to make up for his crash in Japan… it failed. On the 29th lap, Kevin Magnussen attempted an attack on the Floridian from the outside of the first corner, then tried his luck again at the next corner before sending the Williams into the wall. The American, broken rear wing and damaged rear axle, was forced to retire.

5) Canada, Grand Prix

Driver involved: Logan Sargeant
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the car at turn 4

In 2024, America did not succeed in Logan Sargeant: in Canada, the American was trapped in the rain at turn 4. By attacking a little too hard on the curb at the exit of the chicane, the Williams driver spins and hits the outside wall with the rear of his car, before stopping and causing a Safety Car.

6) Canada, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Alexander Albon (with Carlos Sainz)
Cause of the accident: Hit by Carlos Sainz at turn 6

A few laps after Logan Sargeant, it was Alexander Albon’s turn to be involved in an accident in Canada… without being at fault, this time. On a drying track, with a dry trajectory but wet bitumen off-trajectory, Carlos Sainz gets trapped and spins. Wanting to get out of the way, without pressing the brakes, the Spaniard picked up the Thai’s Williams which, in the collision, broke its right rear suspension and ended up in the wall. This is Williams’ first double retirement of 2024.

7) Netherlands, Free Practice 3

Driver involved: Logan Sargeant
Cause of the accident: Wheels in the grass exiting turn 3

It was one of the biggest crashes of the season, and it was the one that cost Logan Sargeant his place in Formula 1. In rainy conditions and just hours before qualifying at Zandvoort, Logan Sargeant made a big mistake at the exit of turn 3 leaving his wheels in the wet grass. What was supposed to happen, happened: the American spun and violently hit the barrier on the other side of the circuit. The Williams, destroyed, caught fire. Damage so significant that the Floridian cannot participate in qualifying… He will be thanked after the Dutch Grand Prix.

8) Azerbaijan, Free Practice 1

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Loss of control and contact with the wall at the exit of turn 4

After a convincing debut at Monza with Williams, Franco Colapinto arrives in Baku on a circuit he does not know. Unfortunately, during Free Practice 1, the Argentinian will quickly realize the Azeri challenge: by carrying too much speed into turn 4, the rookie loses control of his car, goes into oversteer and ends his session against the outside wall . That won’t stop him from finishing in the points on Sunday!

9) United States, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Alexander Albon (with Esteban Ocon)
Cause of the accident: Clash with Esteban Ocon in the first round

A fairly minor accident, which nevertheless deserves to be noted. At the start of the United States Grand Prix, Alexander Albon harpoons Esteban Ocon who spins before taking off again. No breakage this time…

10) Mexico, Free Practice 1

Drivers involved: Alexander Albon (with Oliver Bearman)
Cause of the accident: Collision with Oliver Bearman in turn 9

On the other hand, in Mexico, Alexander Albon was guilty of a big blunder during Free Practice 1. On a fast lap, the Thai was surprised by the slow-moving Ferrari of Oliver Bearman, who had nevertheless left the trajectory clear. The Williams driver lost control of his car at high speed on the curb and rushed straight towards the young Briton, a collateral victim of Alexander Albon’s oversteer who ended his race in the barrier, car destroyed.

11) Mexico, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Alexander Albon (with Yuki Tsunoda)
Cause of the accident: Clash with Yuki Tsunoda in the first round

Two days after his accident during Free Practice, Alexander Albon was again involved in an accident on the first lap of the Mexican Grand Prix. Yuki Tsunoda tries to overtake the Thai from the outside but, hampered by Gasly on his right, the Williams driver catches the right rear wheel of the Racing Bulls. Alexander Albon must park on the shoulder with an open left front wheel.

12) Brazil, Q1

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the car at turn 3

In Brazil, Williams will experience a nightmare weekend with three major accidents in just one day! The first comes on Sunday morning, during qualifying (postponed due to heavy rain the day before). Franco Colapinto, who was driving for the first time in Formula 1 in the rain, lost control of his vehicle at the third corner and spun before hitting the wall of tires.

13) Brazil, Q3

Driver involved: Alexander Albon
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the car at the first corner

The second accident of the day also occurred in qualifying, in Q3 this time. Approaching the first corner, Alexander Albon locks his rear wheels, flips and smashes his Williams into the Tec-Pro at high speed. The FW46 was destroyed and the brave mechanics of the British team were unable to repair it in time before the Grand Prix: Alexander Albon had to withdraw.

14) Brazil, Grand Prix

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the car at turn 14

Williams’ ordeal continued during the Grand Prix, with the only surviving car of Franco Colapinto crashing for the second time of the day. Under downpours of water and after a pit stop to put in… intermediates, the Argentinian logically aquaplaned on the way up to the start-finish straight and smashed his Williams against the wall. An accident which will cause a red flag and which will offer Max Verstappen the victory… but also a double podium for Alpine, which was then fighting against Williams for 8th place in the Constructors’ championship. A dark weekend for the Grove team.

15) Las Vegas, Q2

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Contact with the wall at turn 16

Three weeks after the São Paulo nightmare, Williams must still survive three Grands Prix to finish the season. Parts are starting to become scarce… and the British team’s case does not improve in Las Vegas, since Franco Colapinto crashes during qualifying. In Q2, the young Argentinian attacked turn 16 a little too hastily and hit the inside wall, before crashing his FW46 into the outside wall. A shock measured at 50G which shook the rookie, but which did not prevent him from participating in the Grand Prix with a start from the pits.

16) Qatar, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Franco Colapinto (with Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon)
Cause of the accident: Collision with Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon in the first round

A week after Las Vegas, Franco Colapinto is again involved in an accident in Qatar, but this time is a victim and not guilty. At the first corner, Nico Hülkenberg completely fails to brake and spins off. The German collides with Esteban Ocon, who is sent back to Franco Colapinto. The Frenchman and the Argentinian remain on the floor.

17) Abou Dhabi, Grand Prix

Drivers involved: Franco Colapinto (with Oscar Piastri)
Cause of the accident: Hit by Oscar Piastri at the entrance to turn 6

The last accident of the year at Williams again concerns Franco Colapinto but again, the Argentinian can do nothing about it. On the 3rd lap, the Argentinian was harpooned by Oscar Piastri, who misjudged his braking as he approached the chicane. In the contact, the rookie damaged his diffuser and suffered a left rear puncture. He will abandon his last Grand Prix of the year on the 28th lap.

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