‘Williams denied cost cap request by FIA’ – report

A request by Williams to the FIA for exemptions to the cost cap due to crash damage was rejected, it has been reported.

The Grove-based team endured a tricky season with millions of dollars caused in crash damage after at least 16 big accidents, including three in one day on Sunday of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 

Such was the damage to Alex Albon’s car after his qualifying smash, he could not take the start, with team-mate Franco Colapinto crashing twice at Interlagos, and then, after a strong effort to get two cars ready for Las Vegas, the Argentine destroyed another car in a Las Vegas qualifying crash. 

By the end of the season, Williams was down to just a single spare front-wing for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and post-season test, although mercifully, no incidents with serious damage occurred at Yas Marina.

German publication Auto Motor und Sport has reported that the team approached the FIA to try and write-off some of the damage to stay within the cost cap imposed on teams.

However, as most of the major accidents were caused solely by Albon, Colapinto, and before he was released, Logan Sargeant, the request was denied. 

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend alone was estimated to have cost the team nearly $4 million in crash damage.

Teams are able to take some budget from the cost cap for the next season, but this comes with a penalty.