Colapinto back to older-spec Williams suspension after Vegas crash

Franco Colapinto will participate in the final two grands prix of the 2024 Formula 1 season utilizing Williams’s old front suspension design, following his crash during qualifying in Las Vegas.

Due to Colapinto’s significant crash in Q2 last weekend, Williams has had to replace the damaged front suspension components of his car with the previous version that was in use before the latest design was introduced at the Singapore Grand Prix in September.

The front suspension update was initially intended to be incorporated into the FW46 during Williams’ major upgrade package at the Zandvoort round after the summer break. However, due to the team’s numerous crashes in the early part of the 2024 season, the introduction of this update was delayed by three races.

“We are changing the suspension, the front suspension is different,” Colapinto stated in Qatar before the penultimate race of the season this weekend. “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 maximize the car.”

Colapinto explained that there are not enough of the newer parts to replace the ones lost in Vegas, attributing it to the crashes the team has experienced in recent races.

Despite the change in specification, Williams insiders believe that it will only result in a modest performance decrease for the FW46.

Marshals load the damaged car of Franco Colapinto, Williams FW4

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Speaking at the Losail track on Thursday, Colapinto also discussed his experience during the Vegas qualifying round, stating, “Q2 [there] put me in a situation of having to push the limits a little bit more than [in] other sessions.” He acknowledged taking too much risk, leading to the crash, but remains optimistic moving forward.

“These things happen, it’s part of racing. Let’s see how it goes here,” Colapinto concluded.

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