Franco Colapinto Gets Green Light for Las Vegas GP Following 50G Qualifying Impact

Franco Colapinto Gets Green Light for Las Vegas GP Following 50G Qualifying Impact

By Michael Anderson

November 24, 2024 at 08:39 PM

Franco Colapinto has been medically cleared to compete in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following a severe 50G crash during qualifying, though he will start from the pit lane.

The Williams driver suffered a significant accident in Q2 when he struck the inside wall at Turn 16, causing his car to careen across the track into the outside barrier. The impact was forceful enough to displace the concrete barrier and required over 20 minutes of repairs and debris cleanup.

Race driver waving to camera

Race driver waving to camera

After initial medical center evaluation and rest at his hotel, Colapinto underwent a thorough follow-up assessment Saturday and received clearance to race. Williams confirmed their driver's health remains the top priority and expressed gratitude to the medical staff for their excellent care.

The team's garage crew successfully repaired Colapinto's extensively damaged car overnight without breaking track curfew. Due to setup changes made during repairs, Colapinto will start from pit lane instead of his original P14 qualifying position.

This change benefits the drivers who qualified behind him - Liam Lawson, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, and Valtteri Bottas - who will each move up one grid position for the race.

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