Williams lacks a backup chassis at the track, but team leader James Vowles has indicated the team might consider moving Albon to Logan Sargeant’s vehicle on Saturday, potentially leaving the American without a drive.
Albon was involved in a severe crash during FP1 at Albert Park, slamming into a concrete barrier on the right side at high velocity and then crossing the track to hit the opposite wall as well.
The team promptly stated that Albon, who fortunately wasn’t hurt from the crash, would miss FP2. They plan to thoroughly inspect the damaged chassis using NDT [non-destructive testing] to see if it’s fixable overnight, utilizing a curfew extension.
The decision to undertake the repairs will be made after FP2 tonight. “It was a pretty significant crash,” Vowles said. “The engine and gearbox suffered extensive damage, the gearbox notably being split in two, and the chassis was compromised.
“It’s about as bad as it gets. We indeed do not have a third chassis with us, which is the main issue. So, the question is whether we can mend this one.
“We have repair kits, but it’s still uncertain due to the severity of the crash, especially considering the damage to the front right corner.”
Vowles mentioned that if Albon’s chassis is beyond repair, they might decide to let him use Sargeant’s car, considering Albon’s potential for earning points in a race that often sees many retirements.
“Even a single point could significantly affect our standing in the championship, possibly affecting our rank from sixth to 10th,” he remarked.
“It all depends. I’m looking forward to seeing how FP2 goes, how the car is performing, and what chassis options we have.” Should Albon switch to Sargeant’s chassis, they’ll need to install an engine and gearbox from Albon’s allocation.
Vowles acknowledged that Williams consciously accepted the risk of not having a spare chassis for the season’s early races. “We’ve been quite upfront about pushing our limits throughout the off-season to achieve our current status, which necessitated certain sacrifices,” he explained.
“One of these sacrifices, a calculated risk, was to delay bringing a spare chassis until around the third race. This meant assuming you’d avoid major incidents early on, a gamble that has unfortunately not worked out this time.”