Franco Colapinto will finish the 2024 Formula 1 season’s last two races with Williams’ previous front suspension design, following his crash during Las Vegas qualifying. Colapinto’s significant incident in Q2 last weekend in Vegas has necessitated a switch back to the older components due to damage.
Impact of the Vegas Incident
The heavy crash during qualifying forced Williams to replace the damaged front suspension parts. They returned to the setup used before the team introduced the latest design at the Singapore Grand Prix in September. This adjustment presents an unexpected challenge for Colapinto as he faces the season’s concluding races.
Williams’ Technical Adjustments
The latest front suspension was intended to be part of a major upgrade package released with the FW46 at the Zandvoort Grand Prix. However, numerous crashes early in the season led to delays, pushing its introduction three races back.
In Qatar, ahead of the penultimate race, Colapinto stated, “We are changing the suspension, the front suspension is different. So, that’s the old spec and some other things. But that’s what it is and we have to deal with that and try to do our best to maximise the car.”
Resource Constraints at Williams
Colapinto explained the lack of sufficient newer parts to replace those destroyed in the Vegas incident. He added, “It’s part of the crashes we’ve been having the last few races.” This situation underscores the team’s challenge in managing resources and ensuring competitive performance despite setbacks.
Looking Forward
As the season reaches its climax, Colapinto and Williams must strategise carefully to accommodate this technical setback. With optimised strategies, they aim to maximise car performance despite resorting to older specifications.
Fans and analysts will closely watch how Colapinto navigates these hurdles, impacting his overall season standings. Will experience with the older suspension give him an unexpected advantage, or will the newer design’s absence be keenly felt on the track?
The upcoming races will reveal the answers as Colapinto aims to finish the season on a high note with the Williams team.
