Franco Colapinto’s participation in the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix remains uncertain following a terrifying 50G crash during Q2 qualifying. The Williams driver lost control at the penultimate corner, clipping the inside wall and slamming into the outside barrier, leaving his FW46 in ruins with three of its four corners torn off.
Medical Clearance Pending After Severe Impact
The 21-year-old Argentine skipped post-qualifying media sessions and was immediately sent for medical evaluation. Williams confirmed that his fitness for Saturday night’s race will depend on a further assessment on race day.
“During qualifying Franco sustained a significant impact of over 50G, requiring a medical check-up,” Williams said in a statement.
“An impact of this magnitude is obviously significant and severe, and he will need to be evaluated again tomorrow before we will know whether he is clear to race.
“Franco’s health is all that matters, and we are glad he is otherwise OK. We will provide further updates when we can.”
If cleared, Colapinto is expected to start from the pit lane due to the extensive damage to his car, which will require a full rebuild before the race.
A Costly Streak of Crashes for Williams
This crash comes on the heels of a series of incidents for Williams in recent weeks. Colapinto’s Las Vegas shunt follows his disastrous Brazilian GP weekend, where he crashed in both qualifying and during the race under a safety car. Combined with other accidents in Mexico and Brazil, Williams finds itself facing mounting repair costs and a shortage of spare parts.
The team, already stretched thin after back-to-back crash-filled weekends, faces the challenging task of readying Colapinto’s car—or a substitute driver—for the high-stakes Las Vegas GP.
What’s Next for Williams and Colapinto?
Should Colapinto be unable to race, Williams may need to call in a reserve driver at short notice. This would add further complexity to an already strained weekend for the Grove-based team, which has struggled to maintain momentum in the latter part of the 2024 season.
For Colapinto, the crash marks another setback in his rookie campaign, where flashes of brilliance have often been overshadowed by costly mistakes. As the medical team evaluates his condition, the hope within the paddock is that he can recover swiftly and safely, whether for Las Vegas or beyond.
The lights on the Las Vegas Strip may be dazzling, but for Colapinto and Williams, the focus remains on damage control—both literally and figuratively—heading into the weekend’s main event.