The Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix turned into a catastrophe for Williams, with Franco Colapinto exiting the race after an opening-corner collision and Alex Albon enduring a frustrating run to 15th place, compounded by a spin and a strategic misstep on tire selection.
Colapinto’s Instant DNF: A Chain Reaction of Chaos
For Colapinto, the race ended as quickly as it began. Starting near the back of the grid in P19, the Argentine rookie was caught in a chain reaction triggered by Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas colliding with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, which then slammed into Colapinto. Despite swerving wide to avoid the chaos, there was no escape.
“I tried to open as much as I could to the left because I saw the guys on the inside going wide, but they just drove straight into me,” Colapinto explained. “First into Ocon and then Ocon into me. It’s a pity because starting so far back, you don’t have much to play for, and the guys on the inside were a bit stupid. But it’s racing.”
This was not the first setback for Colapinto, who was already running outdated components after a crash in Las Vegas qualifying. The damage to his car adds yet another costly repair to Williams’ season-long struggles with crashes and spare parts shortages. Heading into the Abu Dhabi finale, the team faces a scramble to get Colapinto’s car race-ready.
Albon’s Disastrous Day: Spins, Collisions, and Tire Trouble
Alex Albon fared little better, as his race unraveled almost immediately. The Thai-British driver was tagged into a spin by Lance Stroll on the opening lap, relegating him to the back of the field. A bold strategy call under the Lap 30 Safety Car, which saw Albon switch to soft tires, offered a brief glimmer of hope as he surged into the top 10. However, the gamble quickly backfired.
As the soft tires lost grip, Albon tumbled down the order, further exacerbating his woes with a collision involving Kevin Magnussen’s Haas, which earned him a 10-second time penalty.
“We were kind of in no man’s land that whole race, struggling with pace,” Albon admitted. “That Safety Car made it interesting—we took a gamble on the softs. I went for it into Turn 1 a couple of times, but with Kevin, honestly, we were slow compared to everyone else. My fault, lost control, and that was it really. From then on, we were just struggling.”
A Season of Struggles: Crashes and Spare Part Woes
Williams’ 2024 campaign has been marred by damage bills and a chronic lack of spare parts. Colapinto’s instant DNF only adds to the pressure on the team as it heads to Abu Dhabi for the final race of the season.
Colapinto, aiming to end the year on a positive note, remained hopeful. “It’s quite important to finish the year on a high and try to have a clean weekend in Abu Dhabi,” he said.
Looking Ahead: Abu Dhabi Offers Final Redemption
Williams faces a steep climb to salvage any positives from a challenging season. For Colapinto, the goal will be to showcase his talent in a trouble-free race, while Albon will aim to regain confidence and secure a more competitive finish.
The Qatar GP serves as a harsh reminder of the struggles Williams must overcome to return to midfield contention. With their sights set on better reliability and strategy execution, Abu Dhabi represents their final chance to make a statement in 2024.