Williams is facing the possibility of running only a single car in the final two races of the 2024 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi due to a critical shortage of resources.
Williams is facing the possibility of running only a single car in the final two races of the 2024 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi due to a critical shortage of resources.
Even before Franco Colapinto’s latest big crash in Q2 at Las Vegas, which initially raised concerns about his ability to race on Saturday, the team was already struggling to assemble two fully operational cars for the weekend.
“The team has suffered eleven total car write-offs this season,” Auto Motor und Sport reported. “Four each for Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto, and three for Logan Sargeant.”
The publication highlighted that Williams has run out of spare parts entirely and is now at risk of breaching the budget cap.
Team principal James Vowles warned that any further crashes could reduce the team to fielding just one car. “We can’t rebuild another car this late in the season,” he explained.
“We are already fully focused on the 2025 car.”
Vowles also confirmed that the team’s financial situation within the budget cap leaves no room for repairing any more substantial damage.
“The situation is a real problem for us,” he admitted.
He pointed out that Williams is not alone, as several teams have experienced more crashes than anticipated this season and may face similar struggles.
“To cushion something like this, I think every team should be allowed two major accidents within the cost cap. I think everyone would agree with that,” he said.
