Alex Albon has pulled out of the Brazilian Grand Prix after declaring his Williams “won’t be fixed” after his qualifying crash, with the team confirming this an hour before the race.

Formula 1 has a tight schedule after Saturday’s deluge led to qualifying being postponed until Sunday morning. But with heavier forecasts for late Sunday afternoon, the Grand Prix has also been brought forward.

Five red flags in Brazilian GP qualifying

7:30am and 12:30pm local were the new start times, giving teams just four hours from the end of qualifying until the formation lap leaves the grid. And then four hours became three.

Sunday morning qualifiers was plagued by red flags as drivers exited the circuit in the wet with several heavy crashes. None, however, were harder than Albumhis.

The Thai-British driver, who had raced to pole position and was sitting 2nd behind Lando Norris on the timesheets, lost it on the run into Turn 1 as he locked the wheel, spun and hit the barrier strong with the left face. That spun the car around and rear-ended it again before bouncing off the barrier, such was the force of the impact.

Bits of carbon fiber, the rear of the car smashed, the sides aren’t doing much better and the left front wheel hanging on the tooth.

Albon, who was seen nursing his wrist, was concerned that Williams would not be repaired in time for the race.

“I’m gone, for sure, I can’t,” he said Viaplay.

Asked to clarify that he would not be racing, he replied: “There is no way.”

Although Williams initially said the driver had jumped the gun, an hour before the start of the race, team principal James Vowles confirmed that Albon would not take part in the Grand Prix.

Vowles said: “It’s a heartbreaking day for the team. We are here to go racing and nobody wants to be in that situation. The most important point is that all the drivers who had incidents in qualifying are fine, including Alex and Franco.

“Despite the best efforts of our hardworking, talented and resilient team, there was simply not enough time to fix Alex’s car in time for the Grand Prix. It’s a bitter pill to swallow at the end of a tough triple-header, especially when both drivers showed tremendous pace this morning.

“We will focus on maximizing this afternoon with Franco and putting on a show for the incredible fans here in Brazil.”

More from Brazilian GP qualifying

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Winners and losers from qualifying for the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix

Unlike in Australia, when Albon got Logan Sargeant’s car after he damaged his own in a car, this time he was unlucky as his new teammate Franco Colapinto also crashed.

The Argentinian brought out the first of five red flags when he lost it at Turn 3. But as his damage was nowhere near as bad as Albon’s, Williams repaired his FW46 and will line up on the grid.

Carlos Sainz was the second driver to crash, in Q2, as he exited Turn 2 and went behind the barrier.

Ferrari has not only repaired his car, but opted to equip it with new engine and gearbox parts, meaning a start to the pit lane for the Spaniard. While changing power unit and gearbox parts meant driver penalties, the FIA ​​announced: “As the PU and RNC elements and auxiliary components were changed without the prior approval of the Technical Delegate in the Closed Park, this is not in in accordance with Articles 40.3 and 40.9 of the FIA ​​Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.

“Therefore, car 55 is obliged to start the race from the pit lane, according to Article 40.9 of the FIA ​​Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.”

The other two accidents belonged to Aston Martin, first Lance Stroll and then Fernando Alonso. The latter’s accident was heavily impacted with AMR24’s nose buried in the barrier.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack told DAZN: “We’re trying (to be ready for the race). We will fight until the last second.”

The team reportedly fitted both cars with old gearboxes to avoid a pit lane start, both cars feature on the grid on the official F1 start list.

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