F1: Williams Drivers Face Five-Place Grid Penalties at Abu Dhabi GP
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Abu Dhabi, Dec 6 (NationPress) Williams Racing’s Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto have both been assigned five-place grid penalties for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following the replacement of critical gearbox components in their vehicles. This ruling, confirmed by the FIA stewards, marks a difficult conclusion to the 2024 season for the Grove-based team.
According to a statement from Formula 1's official website, "The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto have both been hit with five-place grid drops for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after the team replaced gearbox components on both cars."
In the lead-up to the final race of the season, Williams made the decision to replace the gearbox cases and cassettes, along with the driveline, gear change, and auxiliary components on both Albon’s and Colapinto’s vehicles. These modifications brought their gearbox allocations to six for Albon and seven for Colapinto, surpassing the allowed five per season as stated in Article 29.2 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.
Consequently, both drivers will drop five positions on the grid at the Yas Marina Circuit. This penalty follows a series of incidents that have placed immense pressure on Williams' resources. Both drivers faced significant crashes in recent rounds, including in the challenging conditions of the Brazilian Grand Prix and the hazardous qualifying session at Las Vegas, forcing the team to continuously repair and replace damaged components.
Williams has encountered a tumultuous second half of the 2024 season, and the latest challenges further exacerbate their struggles. With the team firmly positioned in ninth place in the constructors' standings, they seem to be focusing on a reliable car for the final race rather than grid placement.
Despite the penalties, the team remains committed to concluding the season positively and gearing up for the post-season test next week. Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is slated to make his debut for Williams during the test, signaling the team's aspirations for the future.
