In the 2024 Formula 1 season, Williams has faced significant challenges, failing to secure any points and struggling with equipment issues, highlighted dramatically at the Australian Grand Prix.
During the season’s initial flyaway races, Williams operated without a spare chassis.
This precarious situation was exposed when Alex Albon crashed in the first practice session in Melbourne, leaving the team with no choice but to field just one car for the rest of the event.
This led to a tough decision by Williams team principal James Vowles: withdrawing Logan Sargeant to let Albon use his car in hopes of gaining points.
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Unfortunately, despite the strategy, Albon narrowly missed scoring, finishing 11th.
However, by the Miami Grand Prix, Williams had managed to bring a spare chassis, marking the first such provision in the 2024 season.
The race featured a notable incident where Sargeant was forced into retirement after a collision caused by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.
The incident was caught on camera in the cooldown room, where Max Verstappen, watching the replay, humorously commented on Williams’ recent logistics improvement, saying: “At least they have a spare chassis now, right?”
This remark was well-received among fans, sparking reactions on social media with one fan labeling Verstappen as “a savage” and another celebrating his candid humor.
Albon, reflecting on the addition of the spare chassis, dismissed the idea that it provided any relief.
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“He emphasized his focus on performance, undistracted by the earlier lack of a safety net, stating, “It sounds bad of me to say but I don’t [see it as a relief].
“I don’t think about it. I think I’ve said it before but if you start thinking about it you’re already kind of at a loss. You can’t let it [impact] your weekend.”
His comments underline a commitment to moving forward, focusing on updates and general improvements to the car, hoping for a turnaround in the team’s fortunes.