Alex Albon accident: How much damage is there? / System 1

When Alex Albon hit the tire wall with his car in turn three at the Suzuka race right after the start of lap one and then the most important thing quickly became clear – the driver is fine, the Williams technicians probably thought: Not anymore.

Just two weeks after the total loss in Melbourne, the next car sustained extensive damage from the crash.

Williams team boss James Vowles told F1TV after the race about possible damage to the car: “They took pictures of it. We’ll see what it’s like when the car goes back to the factory. It looks fixed, but I could only judge from the pictures.”

Accident pilot Albon: “How the tires from the pile of tires got under the car and broke it and how the car suddenly went from high speed to zero worries me. I could not see it well because the car was under the tires. I hope it’s okay.”

The biggest problem for Williams is basically the number of accidents: After a total loss in Melbourne (Albon in free training), Williams could only send one car to the race because the chassis was badly damaged. Logan Sargeant had to retire from the race though as Albon crashed.

At Suzuka, Sargeant crashed in the first practice session and missed the second session due to hard work. Although its chassis can be modified, the American had to run with the old aero package because Williams did not have enough spare parts to upgrade. Albon’s kit for this upgrade may now also disappear due to a race crash.

The race calendar does not help Williams: After a week off, they will be racing in China in two weeks. Cars for this should be sent to China at the beginning of next week. Until then, the Williams crew has to do a superhuman job, producing all kinds of spare parts for both cars and saving as much as possible.

And the big question is: Can the chassis of Albon’s car be modified, as Vowles’ first remote diagnosis was? It would have been better. The third chassis, which he would have to reach, should not be ready until Miami (May 5). In the worst case scenario, Williams could only have one car in China.

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round

outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0