Williams has admitted that the five major shunts from the last two Formula 1 race weekends have caused an ‘unsustainable’ run of damage to leave it short on spares.

The Grove-based squad has endured two bruising events in Mexico and Brazil, where drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto both endured a run of heavy accidents.

Albon suffered a big crash in first practice in Mexico, after making contact with Oliver Bearman, while his race ended on the opening lap when he was tagged by RB‘s Yuki Tsunoda.

In Brazil, Albon had a major crash in the wet qualifying session which put him out of the race because the damage he caused could not be repaired in time.

Colapinto also crashed in qualifying and, while the team could get his car fixed in time, he suffered another big accident in the wet race that brought out a red flag.

The run of incidents has burned through Williams’ spare parts and team principal James Vowles has admitted that it is now facing a race against time to work out what can be done to put it in the best possible shape for the race in Las Vegas.

The team will not only need to ensure it has enough spares to get through the weekend but also that it is running with its car in the best possible configuration of upgrades.

Franco Colapinto, Williams FW46, crashes out

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

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Speaking in his regular post-race review on the Williams App, Vowles said that work at the squad was still ongoing to finalise what shape it would be in for Las Vegas.

Asked about the spares situation in light of the crashes, Vowles said: “There’s no team on the grid that can cope with five major accidents in two race weekends. Simply the matter of spares we carry are not sufficient to carry that amount of attrition. 

“Vegas, I have high hopes for. We were fast there last year, and I’m confident the car will work well in those conditions.

“So we will do our absolute utmost to get two cars to the best specification they can be, with sufficient spares around us to make that happen.

“What that looks like is difficult to predict. We’re still getting the items back from Brazil and determining what we have to do in terms of construct and build in order to give ourselves the best possible scenario.”

James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing, in the the team representatives press conference

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Vowles said that what happened in Brazil in particular, especially because Albon’s Q3 crash had come after some impressive pace in the wet, was incredibly hard to take.

However, he reckoned the pain of all that happened, which included dropping down a constructors’ championship position because of Alpine‘s double podium, had not changed his belief about what Williams could achieve in the future.

“The Brazil weekend was probably the most brutal that I can remember across my entire career. In the space of seven days, a little more than, we had five major accidents. In Brazil alone between qualifying the race three.

“That’s an amount that near enough no one can sustain on the grid.

“This team is going through the process of rebuilding itself into a state where it can win races in the future. That doesn’t happen overnight.

“It doesn’t happen without significant change throughout an organization, and this one race is simply just a blip in what is a grand scheme of a multi-year programme.

“It doesn’t mean it hurts any less. It’s something that hurts tremendously as I’m talking to you now.

“But I want us to be successful and performant. I came here not to be fighting for the odd point, but rather fighting for wins and more in the future. And that can’t be achieved without some level of compromise along the way, without rebuilding an organisation.

“So yes, it’s painful what happened last weekend, but it hasn’t changed what our destination is. In fact, it’s rooted me even further more to the fact of what we have to do to achieve it is significant, but we can achieve it together as a team.”

WILLIAM GALLAS has called out Arsenal’s “tired” stars – and demanded they raise their energy levels for a title push.

The former Gunners defender won two Premier League titles during his time with Chelsea.

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Mikel Arteta’s side have faltered in recent matches after a promising start to the campaign.

Arsenal have lost two of their last three top-flight games, dropping off the pace in the title race.

They go into this weekend’s fixtures seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Arteta recently complained his team looked “tired” during a Champions League game with Shakhtar Donetsk.

But Gallas – who played for the Gunners between 2006 and 2010 – doesn’t buy the excuse.

Gallas told Prime Casino: “Arsenal has won absolutely nothing! Nothing. Why are they tired?

“Their arms don’t ache from lifting trophies. Explain to me why they are tired.

“Liverpool, they don’t look tired, they look like they’re ready to fight for the title.”

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Arsenal led twice in a recent 2-2 draw with the league leaders, conceding a late Mo Salah equaliser after dropping deeper into their own half.

And Gallas believes the team’s only chance of winning a first title since 2003 is to go on the front foot.

He continued: “What Arsenal produced last season, and why everybody was happy, was that they had that confidence, they were not scared of anyone.

“I think they have to become fearless again this season to reproduce their best football.

“You can’t blame the lack of rhythm and control on the absence of Odegaard.

Arsenal player ratings v Inter Milan

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TOOTHLESS Arsenal were beaten by a superb Italian job in Milan as they lost 1-0 thanks to a controversial penalty.

Here’s how the Gunners stars were rated by SunSport’s Tony Robertson.

David Raya – 6

Unfortunate with the penalty on an otherwise quiet night. Passing was below par with on three out of nine long passes finding their mark.

Ben White – 7

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Dependable as ever at right back. Can’t be blamed for the defeat from a defensive standpoint.

William Saliba – 7

Marshalled defence well and produced some strong passes.  Three clearances and six duels won said everything about his performance.

Gabriel Magalhaes – 7

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Had a slightly better time in duels than Saliba but was worse on the ball.

Jurrien Timber – 7 

Had a good rapport with Martinelli down the left flank. Dependable but undone by the controversial penalty call.

Mikel Merino – 5 

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Difficult to see what he brings to the midfield at the moment. Clearly Arteta likes his height and strength, but not on the same wavelength as team-mates tonight. Unlucky to give away the penalty.

Thomas Partey – 6

Should have been given more licence to roam forward in the second half. But didn’t look like he had the legs to do that job.

Bukayo Saka – 6

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Captain for the night with Odegaard only fit for the bench. Saka was always a threat, but all too often or not chose the wrong option to go inside or out.

Gabriel Martinelli – 7

Flashes of brilliance and a thorn throughout the clash. Created four chances but team-mates were unable to help him out.

Kai Havertz – 6  

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Couple of flashes of brilliance, including a beautiful curled effort at goal that forced Sommer to punch clear, but needed to be a stronger force up top. Went off with a bloody head in injury time.

Leandro Trossard – 6 

Buzzed around and had threatening moments. But just didn’t get the ball enough in dangerous positions.

“You can’t call yourself a contender for the Premier League title if you can’t play your football when one player is missing.”

“Arsenal have an amazing opportunity to win the title this season.

“Manchester City are not the same team as previous Pep teams from the last few season. Arsenal need to take advantage of that.

“Don’t squander the opportunity that you’ve worked so tirelessly over the last two years for.”

Antoine Dupont has returned “better than ever” to XVs after winning Olympic sevens gold in the summer, says France flanker Francois Cros.

Scrum-half Dupont, 27, has been named captain for France’s opening Autumn Nations Series game against Japan on Saturday, in his first game in international XVs since his side’s devastating home Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by South Africa last October.

Having spent 2024 focusing on sevens, the former World Player of the Year set up a try and scored two himself as France beat Fiji 28-7 to win their first gold of the Paris Olympics in July.

“It was something incredible for him and French rugby,” Cros said.

“Since he’s come back, after having a good break, he’s better than what he was before.

“So it’s obviously a pleasure to have him back.”

After an extended break, Dupont returned last month and scored a 13-minute hat-trick off the bench for Toulouse in a 48-14 victory over Clermont.

Despite missing this year’s Six Nations and France’s summer tour of Argentina to focus on learning the shortened format, he continued playing for his club side Toulouse when possible, starring as his side won the Investec Champions Cup in May.

He will be partnered by Toulouse team-mate Thomas Ramos, who starts at fly-half in preference to regular 10 Matthieu Jalibert, with Dupont taking back the captaincy from number eight Gregory Alldritt for the match against Eddie Jones’ side.

“The question didn’t even need to be asked, it’s natural to us for him to be captain,” Cros said.

“Since he’s come back, his standards have been the same if not better. There was no doubt about that subject.”

CHELSEA and Arsenal are set to join Manchester United in the battle to sign Europe’s most in-demand player Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sporting Lisbon sensation is now widely expected to leave the Portuguese giants at the end of the season.

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He could follow his current boss Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford – with United chiefs willing to pay the £63m it would take to sign him.

But Sun Online has learned the Swedish superstar’s advisors are pushing for a move to a club in the Champions League.

And that’s put Arsenal and Chelsea, who are bidding to qualify for Europe’s top competition next season, on red-alert.

The Gunners might have a head start though.

Mikel Areta’s side have been scouting Gyokeres over the past 12 months in their search for more firepower up top.

But Chelsea are also on the lookout for a prolific number nine and the young Swede would fit the bill.

The both clubs are also in a far better position to be able to offer the player the Champions League football he so dearly craves, with United languishing in 13th in the Prem.

Sporting reportedly have a gentleman’s agreement with Gyokeres to let him go for less than his release clause which is set at around £84m.

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The 26-year-old’s current contract expires in 2028.

He has has gone from Championship striker to one of the world’s best in a whirlwind year.

The Swedish forward enhanced his reputation with a hat-trick in a shock 4-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Sporting would look for around £67m but could accept as little as £63m.

And that is likely to interest a host of Prem giants.

Amorim ruled out taking him with him to United in January – but said he does expect the forward to look for a new challenge in the summer.

He said: “I’ve just made peace with the Sporting fans so I’m not even going to make a joke about it.

“Gyokeres is a Sporting player and it’s is a great club, he did a lot for the club. He just has to stay and finish the season at the club.”

His 66 goals in 67 appearances has already drawn interest from Saudi Arabia.

With Gyokeres likely to stay in Portugal for the rest of the season, United are also being tipped to go for another Sporting star.

Reports say they are tracking 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda, who has impressed this season.

Amorim is preparing to leave Sporting for Old Trafford next week and could bring a couple of players along with him.

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