Franco Colapinto Cleared for Las Vegas GP Start Following Massive 50G Impact
Franco Colapinto has been cleared to compete in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following a severe 50G crash during qualifying, though he will start from the pit lane.
Race driver waving to camera
The Williams driver experienced a significant accident in Q2 when he struck the inside wall at Turn 16, which sent his car across the track into the outside concrete barrier at high speed. The impact was severe enough to displace the barrier, causing a 20-minute delay for repairs and debris clearance.
After initial medical checks following the incident, Colapinto returned to his hotel to rest. A subsequent evaluation on Saturday confirmed his fitness to participate in the race.
Williams confirmed that while Colapinto's car has been successfully repaired overnight without breaking curfew regulations, setup changes made during repairs necessitate a pit lane start. The team emphasized that the driver's health remained their primary concern throughout the recovery process.
The incident affects the starting grid, with drivers originally positioned behind Colapinto's 14th place spot - including Liam Lawson, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, and Valtteri Bottas - all moving up one position.
The medical team has praised the careful attention given to Colapinto's wellbeing, and Williams has expressed gratitude to their garage team for their overnight repair efforts, as well as to fans and partners for their support during this challenging situation.
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