Williams Racing driver Alex Albon has shared that he tried to avoid the collision with Daniel Ricciardo that ended his Japanese Grand Prix on the opening lap. Albon, who started on the Soft compound, took advantage of Ricciardo’s compromised position in Turns 1 and 2 to position himself alongside the Australian as they approached Turn 3. Unfortunately, Ricciardo failed to notice Albon’s move and forced him onto the grass, resulting in a slight contact that sent both drivers into the barrier and out of the race. Albon admitted that he attempted to back out of the situation when he realized Ricciardo hadn’t seen him, but it was too late to avoid the crash. He expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the team’s struggles and the impact this incident would have on their performance.
Albon emphasized that he was unharmed in the accident but expressed concern about the damage sustained by the car. He noted that the impact with the tire wall was particularly violent, as it was more solidly constructed than the usual plastic barriers. He stressed that his main worry was not for himself but for the car, especially considering the current shortage of parts at Williams. The team has yet to assess the extent of the damage and determine if the car is still in good condition.
Albon immediately thought about the car’s condition even before hitting the wall, as he recognized that this was the last thing the team needed. He emphasized the importance of evaluating the car thoroughly to address any potential issues.
Williams began the season without an extra chassis, resulting in Logan Sargeant sitting out the last round in Australia after Albon’s crash in FP1.
In the meantime, Sargeant suffered an accident during the first practice session this weekend, causing damage to his suspension and gearbox. Albon’s incident is the latest setback for the Williams team.
Albon has admitted that the team’s series of crashes and subsequent repairs will hinder their potential for development.
“I have not spoken to James [Vowles, Williams Team Principal] since the crash. He has been on the pit wall,” clarified Albon.
“But yes, we are aware of the extent of the damage. We are not trying to hide it. However, it requires a significant amount of time and effort to repair, rather than focusing on development and upgrades. This will have consequences later in the season. But for now, we are keeping our heads down and moving forward.”
Sargeant was having a promising race until he understeered wide at Degner 1 and ended up in the gravel, dropping to last place.
However, Albon acknowledges that even if he had finished the race, Williams would have struggled to earn points due to the lack of speed in their FW46 car.
“At the moment, I don’t believe we have a car that can consistently score points,” he stated. “Perhaps on certain tracks that suit our car, but we haven’t found that yet this year. However, China presents a great opportunity. Everyone will be going into China underprepared and uncertain. This is where we can take advantage and outperform others. So, there is a significant opportunity in China.”