17 accidents in 24 Grands Prix: Williams' black 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

The first crash of Williams in 2024 is due to Alexander Albon in Australia, guilty of a mistake at the exit of turn 6. The Thai driver pulverized his single-seater and damaged its chassis. Problem: at the start of the season, the British team did not have a spare chassis, due to lack of time and resources to design a third. A risk that costs dearly, since Williams decides to sacrifice Logan sargeant for the rest of the weekend in order to "offer" his single-seater to Alexander Albon. He will finish 11th, just outside the points.

This is the strong image of free practice 1 ⚠️

Violent exit from the track for Albon in FP1 who was therefore deprived of FP2.
The driver is fine despite significant damage to the Williams 💥#AustralianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Fu71tEuhJ0

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 22, 2024

2) Japan, Free Practice 1

Driver involved: Logan sargeant
Cause of the accident: Wheels in the grass 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 tyre wall during Free Practice 1 at Suzuka. The American, forced to sit out in Australia, was overly optimistic on the exit of Turn 7 and lost control of his FW46, putting his wheels on the grass, before ending his session against the barrier.

© Antonin Vincent / DPPI

3) Japan, Grand Prix

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

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 pushed the Thai driver off the track until he made contact, with the Williams driver unable to avoid either the Racing Bulls or the tyre wall at the entrance to turn 3...

© Frédéric Le Floc'h / DPPI

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… but he failed. On lap 29, 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, with a 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 single-seater at turn 4

In 2024, America did not succeed for Logan Sargeant: in Canada, the American was caught out in the rain at Turn 4. By attacking a little too hard on the kerb at the exit of the chicane, the Williams driver spun and hit the outside wall with the rear of his single-seater, before coming to a stop and causing a Safety Car.

© DPPI

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 asphalt off the trajectory, Carlos Sainz was trapped and spun. While trying to get out of the trajectory, without applying the brakes, the Spaniard caught the Thai driver's Williams, who, in the collision, broke his right rear suspension and ended up in the wall. This was Williams' first double retirement in 2024.

7) Netherlands, Free Practice 3

Driver involved: Logan sargeant
Cause of the accident: Wheels in the grass at the exit of 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 a few hours before qualifying at Zandvoort, Logan Sargeant made a big mistake at the exit of turn 3 by leaving his wheels in the wet grass. What had to happen, happened: the American spun and violently hit the barrier on the other side of the circuit. The Williams, destroyed, caught fire. The damage was so significant that the Floridian could not take part in qualifying… He would be thanked after the Dutch Grand Prix.

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

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 doesn't 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 single-seater, oversteers and ends his session against the outside wall. This will not prevent him from finishing in the points on Sunday!

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

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 is nevertheless worth noting. At the start of the United States Grand Prix, Alexander Albon harpoons Esteban Ocon who spins before setting off again. No damage 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 driver was surprised by the Ferrari Oliver Bearman's slow motion, who had nevertheless left the trajectory free. The Williams driver lost control of his car at high speed on the kerb and headed straight towards the young Briton, collateral victim of Alexander Albon's oversteer who would end his race in the barrier, his car destroyed.

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

Alex Albon loses control of his car and hits Ollie Bearman 💥

Both drivers are fine 👍#MexicoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/7qSpD6iHe6

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) October 25, 2024

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 tried to overtake the Thai driver on the outside but, hampered by gasly On his right, the Williams driver clips the right-rear wheel of the Racing Bulls. Alexander Albon has to park on the side of the road with an open left-front wheel.

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

12) Brazil, Q1

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the single-seater at turn 3

In Brazil, Williams would experience a nightmare weekend with three major accidents in just one day! The first occurred 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 car at the third corner and spun before hitting the tire wall.

13) Brazil, Q3

Driver involved: Alexander albon
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the single-seater at the first corner

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

© Antonin Vincent / DPPI

14) Brazil, Grand Prix

Driver involved: Franco Colapinto
Cause of the accident: Loss of control of the single-seater at turn 14

Williams' ordeal continued during the Grand Prix, with Franco Colapinto's only surviving single-seater crashing for the second time that day. In torrential rain and after a pit stop to put on some... intermediates, the Argentinian logically aquaplaned on the climb back up to the start-finish straight and smashed his Williams into the wall. An accident that would result in a red flag and give Max Verstappen victory… but also a double podium for Alpine, who were then battling Williams for 8th place in the Constructors' Championship. A black weekend for the Grove team.

© DPPI

15) Las Vegas, Q2

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

Three weeks after the nightmare of São Paulo, Williams still has to survive three Grands Prix to finish the season. Parts are starting to become scarce… and the British team's situation is not getting any better in Las Vegas, as Franco Colapinto crashes during qualifying. In Q2, the young Argentinian attacks turn 16 a little too hastily and hits the wall on the inside, before smashing his FW46 into the outside wall. A shock measured at 50G that shakes the rookie, but does not prevent him from participating in the Grand Prix with a start from the pits.

THE BIG CRASH OF COLAPINTO 😳

The driver is fine but his Williams is destroyed, the start of Q3 will be delayed 🔴

Esteban Ocon is eliminated, Pierre Gasly advances to Q3 🇫🇷#LasVegasGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/N47KH2FuRq

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 23, 2024

16) Qatar, Grand Prix

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

A week after Las Vegas, Franco Colapinto was involved in another accident in Qatar, but this time he was the victim and not the culprit. At the first corner, Nico Hülkenberg completely missed his braking and went into a spin. The German hit Esteban Ocon, who was sent back into Franco Colapinto. The Frenchman and the Argentinian were left on the floor.

© DPPI

17) Abu Dhabi, Grand Prix

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

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

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