James Vowles brings hope with a strong assurance of Williams fielding a second car for Logan Sargeant at Suzuka, following a controversy-riddled period.
The decision to switch Sargeant out of his car to the other side of the garage following Alex Albon’s accident during the Melbourne practice sessions sparked controversy.
“It’s incredibly challenging for the bottom five teams to score points,” Dr. Helmut Marko from Red Bull stated.
“That’s why I understand Williams’ decision.”
“Albon is the stronger driver and a point in the championship could be worth $10 million. From that perspective, it was a logical move.”
The fact that Williams still does not have a spare chassis at the start of the new season is arguably less forgivable, especially since a third monocoque won’t be ready in time for the Japanese GP.
Rumors have suggested that Williams might not even be able to repair Albon’s chassis for Suzuka, which would logically sideline Sargeant once again.
“I am now 100% convinced we will be able to repair the chassis,” insisted team principal James Vowles today, revealing that the damaged car was returned to the Grove factory at 2 a.m. on Monday.
He stated it is currently being disassembled and repaired… and the damage is quite significant.
“The engine mounts were completely bent. The right front, between the suspension, is torn – I can slide my finger into the chassis right now.”
However, he added, “We are in a good position to repair the chassis early enough to send it back in time for Suzuka. So, we will have two cars there without much issue. It’s therefore unlikely that Logan will have to remain in the garage without driving.”
No worries at Red Bull Racing either
Dr. Helmut Marko also confirmed that Red Bull Racing has no apprehensions for Suzuka following the brake issue that led to Max Verstappen’s retirement in Australia. He acknowledges the assembly error, although the exact cause is not yet known.
“Max’s brake failure was due to an error, but the exact cause is still under investigation. But it’s not due to the caliper. It’s more of an assembly issue, which is being checked. For Japan, I have no concerns, it’s not an issue.”
“Suzuka is a power circuit that suits us, and Max is always great there. I am very optimistic.”
Williams Second Car Suzuka. Williams Second Car Suzuka
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