F1 team suffer DOUBLE BLOW as FIA issues SUMMONS for driver…read more
Williams F1 Team has faced a challenging start to their weekend at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, as both drivers, Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto, have been summoned to the FIA stewards. The two drivers failed to attend the mandatory drivers’ meeting, which led to the summons being issued. The situation unfolded during a critical time, with the team preparing for the first sprint race of the weekend.
In an unusual turn of events, the Williams pair encountered technical difficulties when attempting to join the drivers’ meeting virtually, resulting in their absence. Despite the breach, neither driver nor the team received a penalty after the circumstances surrounding the failed attendance became clear. It was determined that both Albon and Colapinto had made an effort to join the meeting but were prevented by issues with the technology.
This double blow for the team comes just as the grid is getting ready for a hectic schedule at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The format for the weekend has been altered due to the sprint race, leaving teams and drivers with limited time to prepare. Instead of the usual two practice sessions before qualifying, only one practice session was held, followed by Sprint Qualifying on Friday. This compressed timetable added pressure on all teams, including Williams, as they fought for grid positions for Saturday’s sprint race.
Williams has already dealt with some tension between their drivers during the previous race in Singapore, where Colapinto, making his debut in Formula 1, caused frustration for his teammate, Alex Albon. In a daring move, Colapinto dive-bombed Albon on the first lap, a maneuver that left Albon visibly frustrated. Despite this incident, team principal James Vowles has expressed satisfaction with his driver lineup. He remains confident in Colapinto’s potential and is pleased with how the young driver has adapted to the challenges of Formula 1.
Colapinto, who has been widely praised for his performances in junior categories, made his F1 debut with Williams, impressing the team with his speed and racecraft. Albon, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer for Williams throughout the season, often punching above the team’s weight in the midfield battles. While the Singapore incident highlighted the risks involved in having two competitive drivers, it also demonstrated that both Albon and Colapinto are eager to push the limits and fight for the best possible results.
Meanwhile, Ferrari seems to be the team to beat at COTA, as both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in the only practice session before the weekend’s sprint qualifying. Sainz led the way with the fastest time in FP1, with Leclerc close behind, leaving the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, trailing in third. This strong showing from Ferrari has raised hopes that they might challenge Verstappen and Red Bull for victory this weekend.
While the Williams team managed to avoid penalties following the FIA summons, they will be eager to put the incident behind them and focus on achieving strong results in the sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix. With Albon’s experience and Colapinto’s promise, the team remains optimistic about the rest of the weekend at COTA.
