Valtteri Bottas shares insights on future plans following a revealing new tattoo.

"I'm at a point in my life where something is nearing its end."

Valtteri Bottas has revealed a fresh tattoo on his thigh that says "what's next?"

Valtteri Bottas has embraced a popular phrase on social media as he reflects on the unavoidable conclusion of his time in Formula 1.

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Sauber has decided to bring on board Formula 2 racer Gabriel Bortoleto to join forces with current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 season.

Bottas finds himself at a dead end, yet he is welcoming fresh opportunities.

The individual recently took on an Iron Man triathlon, consisting of a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a 42.2-kilometer marathon, all executed within the confines of his home. His motivation was to demonstrate his ability to accomplish this feat.

The departing Formula 1 driver revealed his latest tattoo to Sky Sports while in Las Vegas, saying, "What's next? That's the big question. That's why I made the commitment."

"I didn't have any tattoos, but I believed this one was worthwhile."

At this point in my life, one chapter is nearing its end while a new one is on the horizon.

"What comes after this? That's the question individuals need to pose to themselves and seek out the solution."

"Looking ahead, I'm not in a hurry to start anything new."

"I need to explore all possible options that will be beneficial for me in the long run, considering different paths from 2026 onwards, whether that involves Formula 1 or another direction."

Reflecting now, if that's the conclusion, I can hold my head high.

"I consistently put in my maximum effort. That's what truly matters. I have no regrets."

"Life isn't solely about racing around in circles in a car; there should be more to it than that."

"I absolutely take this sport seriously, as it is my passion and I dedicate myself fully to it."

"However, when I'm not working, I like to enjoy myself…"

There are rumors suggesting that Bottas might come back to Mercedes to take on the role of a reserve driver.

He has shown less interest in moving to a different racing series, such as IndyCar, for the 2025 season. This suggests he may be planning a return to Formula 1 in 2026, when changes to the regulations are expected.

Sauber will have a fresh appearance in 2025. At the moment, Brazilian racer Bortoleto is leading the rankings in Formula 2.

He has earned a spot as a rookie driver in Formula 1 for next year with the team that is set to become Audi in 2026.

Sauber needed to engage in discussions with McLaren, as they already had a contract with Bortoleto.

Karun Chandhok from Sky Sports referred to Bortoleto as an exceptionally skilled young driver.

"With Nico Hulkenberg, there's a harmonious mix of youthful energy and seasoned expertise."

Nico Hulkenberg has performed exceptionally this season, likely placing him among the top 10 drivers of the year.

"Bortoleto has demonstrated significant competitiveness in F2. McLaren holds him in high regard and graciously agreed to let him go."

James spent ten years working as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of topics, including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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Yuki Tsunoda hopes to persuade Red Bull to reconsider their decision and offer him a chance to compete in Formula 1 for the 2025 season.

Yuki Tsunoda is optimistic that his racing results will persuade Red Bull to offer him a spot on their team for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The RB driver delivered an impressive performance by securing the seventh position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session, just two spots behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

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Yuki Tsunoda achieved his result as Sergio Perez experienced his sixth failure to advance past Q1 this season, posting a lap time that placed him 16th on the starting grid.

Although Perez has a contract for the upcoming year, he is facing significant pressure to keep his position due to ongoing poor performance compared to Verstappen. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has acknowledged that the team might still alter their roster of drivers for the 2025 season.

Up to this point, Tsunoda has not been considered by Red Bull as a potential candidate, with his teammate Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto, who has been filling in at Williams, seen as more probable options to replace Perez should a switch occur.

When questioned about how he plans to prove to Red Bull that he is prepared for promotion to the main team, Tsunoda replied to Sky Sports F1: "If I had the answer, I would act on it immediately after this interview."

"I can't change those things. What I can do is focus on how well I'm performing this year."

"I believe in my abilities and aim to consistently deliver strong results, hoping this will persuade them to reconsider."

"I will give my best effort and am aware of my capabilities when I join Red Bull."

"At this moment, my focus is on preparing thoroughly, presenting the outcomes, and leaving the decision up to them."

Yuki Tsunoda, who delivered a better performance than Daniel Ricciardo, initially chosen by Red Bull as a substitute for Perez, expressed his annoyance about being repeatedly passed over by Red Bull before the weekend began.

Yuki Tsunoda shared with reporters in Las Vegas that certain events began while Daniel was still his teammate. He noted that Liam joined and quickly made his presence felt.

"Frankly, it's the typical situation you find within that team or among the Red Bull group."

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Lando Norris admits that his chances for the F1 2024 championship slipped away within the initial six races. He believes that the setbacks faced at the beginning of the season were crucial to his title hopes.

Lando Norris acknowledged that the 2024 F1 championship slipped away during the initial six races of the season. Despite this, he expressed pride in having been a competitor against Max Verstappen.

The McLaren racer is set to begin the Las Vegas Grand Prix in seventh position, directly trailing his championship competitor, Verstappen, who is in sixth. To maintain any chance of claiming the title, he must finish with at least three points more than the Dutch contender.

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Norris believes that the championship was effectively decided when Red Bull dominated in the early season, a period when McLaren was not competitive. However, the British driver vowed to keep pushing hard to postpone Verstappen's championship victory festivities.

Norris stated to reporters in Las Vegas that regardless of the outcome tomorrow, his perspective will remain unchanged.

He has a strong chance of securing the championship title. However, my focus is on competing and giving my all in each race, regardless of whether Max finishes before me or not. That's just part of the sport. Today, he's slightly in front of us.

"I believe we have an opportunity to win against them tomorrow, but I will give my all as I consistently do in every race. The result will be whatever it is meant to be."

I am the person facing Max, and I'm glad it's me instead of someone else. Would I have liked it to last a little longer? Definitely.

"The championship was essentially decided during the initial six races of the season. It was during this period that Max was in control, and Red Bull had established a significant lead, making it nearly impossible to recover the points difference."

"I'm thrilled and content with how far we've come, and it's all thanks to us, without any outside help."

Norris mentioned that his McLaren vehicle faced difficulties, with each turn presenting a new issue, throughout the tough qualifying round in Las Vegas.

"The top three or four are likely unattainable," Norris mentioned to Sky Sports F1.

Throughout the weekend, Mercedes has consistently been the fastest team, which is evident. Ferrari has been close on their heels. Meanwhile, both Red Bull and our team have lagged behind by a significant margin, which was apparent in today's performance.

"We certainly anticipated achieving more than what we actually accomplished."

"If only everything had aligned during that lap, we faced issues in every turn with various problems. One moment it functions well, the next it doesn't, making it exceedingly challenging with our car."

"Searching for faster lap times without exceeding the car's limits is tricky. It proved to be too challenging for us, as was evident."

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Lando Norris discusses the "surprising" difficulties McLaren faced on Friday in Las Vegas, admitting, "I'm not very good at it."

Lando Norris expressed that his McLaren car performed "shockingly" when running on high fuel, even though he finished Friday's practice for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix with the second-best time.

Norris, aiming to maintain his championship aspirations by outscoring his competitor Max Verstappen by a minimum of three points this weekend, finished the second practice session only 0.011 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

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Yet, even though Norris found McLaren's single-lap speed promising during the qualifying simulations, he remains worried about the car's race speed due to issues with tyre graining.

"It was average. In my opinion, the performance with low fuel was fine. However, with high fuel, it was quite surprising, so there are many aspects that need to be examined," Norris stated.

Mixing these elements and dealing with challenges like front graining is something I find quite difficult. It's consistently a challenge for me.

"There was plenty of time to focus on it. Essentially, it was split into two parts: one involving efficient low fuel performance and the other dealing with challenging high fuel conditions."

When questioned about whether managing graining comes down to small details, Norris replied: "It can be. If I knew the solution, I'd likely implement it."

"Although I'm aware of it, taking action remains challenging for me, as it is consistently a struggle."

"I plan to investigate the issue and determine what can be done. Currently, I can prioritize addressing high fuel concerns over low fuel ones, but achieving a good qualifying position up front is always beneficial for overall performance."

"There are many aspects to examine this evening."

The 25-year-old from Britain expressed that, due to the lack of grip on the Las Vegas track, he believed he could go faster in a regular road car than in his Formula 1 vehicle.

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Significant Progress for Potential 11th Formula 1 Team by 2026

A new F1 team might soon join the grid.

The likelihood of another Formula 1 team joining the lineup has "significantly risen," as reported by the Associated Press.

According to a report, the protracted effort by Andretti to become the 11th team in Formula 1 might receive approval in the next few weeks.

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Dan Towriss, who holds the majority ownership of the Andretti organization, is attending the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend amid intensifying discussions.

According to an AP report, Andretti's prospects of entering Formula 1 have increased following a company reorganization that reduced the involvement of Michael Andretti, who is the son of former F1 champion Mario Andretti.

According to the report, discussions have increased following the reduction of his position.

With Michael Andretti no longer at the helm, the team might be rebranded under the name of General Motors, the corporation that presently supports Andretti.

Cadillac might serve as the engine supplier starting in 2026.

Las Vegas has become a significant event in the Formula 1 schedule, marking its return after a highly awaited revival last year, as the sport continues to grow its presence in the United States.

However, Haas is the sole team that receives support from the United States.

Despite their efforts to join the championship earlier this year, Andretti was unable to secure the backing of the current 10 Formula 1 teams.

This is even though the FIA has given their entry the green light

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was questioned regarding the seemingly altered position on adding an 11th team to the Formula 1 grid.

Wolff informed the Associated Press that they have a legal responsibility as board members to advocate for what benefits the company and its staff the most, and they have fulfilled this duty.

"If a team can enhance their championship status, especially if General Motors enters the scene as a team owner, that's a whole different scenario."

"As long as it fosters creativity and boosts the sport's popularity and revenue, no team will oppose it. I'm hopeful about that."

"Nobody from Andretti, Andretti Global, or any future name of the organization has ever discussed with me any details about their creative vision."

"However, the teams don't have to make a decision since they aren't responsible for it. The decision is made by the commercial rights holder along with the FIA, and we are not involved."

"When I want to get an invitation to a party and attend it, I make it a point to sit with the group and share who I am. I explain why I'm enjoyable company and assure them that everyone will appreciate having me there."

"That hasn't occurred, but in my opinion, and this is just my personal perspective rather than a professional one, there's nothing within our power to do or say about it."

"I don't know the individuals involved. While I've talked to Mario, I haven't had any conversations with his son or anyone else associated with them. I'm not familiar with who they are. However, I do know GM and have a high opinion of them."

For ten years, James worked as a sports journalist at Sky Sports, where he reported on a wide range of topics including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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Max Verstappen claims that Red Bull's failure to produce a low-drag rear wing has led them to lose two races, particularly impacting their performance in Las Vegas.

Max Verstappen believes that Red Bull has wasted two race weekends by choosing not to introduce a low-drag rear wing for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen secured the fifth position in the qualifying rounds for Sunday's grand prix, positioning himself just ahead of his competitor, Lando Norris. To clinch his fourth world championship title, Verstappen needs to ensure that Norris doesn't outscore him by more than two points. Meanwhile, Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, was eliminated in the first qualifying session, ending up in 16th place.

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Following the qualifying session, Verstappen concentrated on Red Bull's lag in straight-line speed when compared to their competitors. This shortcoming arose because the team lacked a specialized low-drag rear wing, which is essential for high-speed circuits such as Las Vegas and Monza.

"We decided against creating a rear wing with low drag," Verstappen mentioned to the press, including Motorsport Week, during an event in Las Vegas.

"We don't possess one. This situation has been ongoing since 2022. I believe it never crossed our minds that it would deplete to such an extent. Given the budget constraints, we had to set our priorities and accordingly made adjustments."

"Absolutely, I would have preferred a wing with less downforce. Alternatively, a different design that is more efficient would have been ideal."

"However, it's an issue we'll consider. Yet, there's just one year remaining under the current regulations."

"I'm not sure if it sounds logical, but from my perspective, it seems like we waste two race weekends in situations like this since we end up losing significant time on the straights."

When questioned about the areas where he was losing time, Verstappen clarified: "It's happening both in the corners and on the straight sections. We understand that our wing design inherently decreases our top speed, particularly when the DRS is activated. It's somewhat of a disadvantage."

"We were aware of the challenges that come with racing on a circuit like Monza. Additionally, we consistently found it difficult to get the tyres to perform optimally."

"I believe we made the most of our qualifying session given our resources, which resulted in a P5 finish. We were somewhat fortunate because Lewis didn't complete a lap; otherwise, we would have been P6. I feel we truly optimized our performance."

Lewis frequently travels worldwide to cover Grands Prix for Crash.net. By providing on-the-ground coverage, Lewis shares insights and narratives about the key figures in the sport.

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Max Verstappen admits that Red Bull is not performing well in Las Vegas. He notes that the team is having difficulties with their speed over a single lap.

Max Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull is "not very close" in terms of speed for a single lap following the Friday practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Formula 1.

The current world champion from Red Bull concluded the initial practice session in 17th place. His teammate, Sergio Perez, finished in 19th. Both drivers faced challenges throughout the two-hour session, especially with maintaining grip.

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Although Max Verstappen was two seconds slower than Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, he differed from his competitors by not using the soft tire for a lap in the qualifying simulation sessions.

"The track conditions were slick, and we had significant difficulty getting the tires to perform, particularly on a single lap," Verstappen stated.

"The extended race began with a touch more competition, although I believe there's still room for some adjustments. However, our speed over a single lap is significantly lacking."

"Certainly, the conditions here are unusual and extremely chilly. However, ultimately, everyone is facing the same circumstances, so we must work to identify and correct our current mistakes."

The driver from the Netherlands remarked, "The car's balance isn't really the issue; the main problem is the lack of traction. It feels like I'm driving on ice right now."

Christian Horner, the head of the Red Bull team, mentioned that the way the tires perform in the cooler weather conditions in Las Vegas is becoming a "crucial factor."

Horner stated that the key factors are the tires and the temperatures.

"In the short term, we weren't in the right zone with the tires, so we couldn't get them to function properly."

"Over time, the car is functioning well, although we have a few additional problems to address, which seem to be akin to the challenges others are facing. However, in the short term, we struggled to get the tires to perform optimally."

Verstappen is set to secure his fourth consecutive world championship title this weekend if he ends the race ahead of Lando Norris, or if Norris gains no more than two points over him.

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The moment of uncertainty that George Russell worried might have ruined his pole position opportunity occurred in Las Vegas.

George Russell was concerned that his opportunity to secure the top spot at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix was lost after he collided with the wall during the qualifying session.

Following his leading performance in Q1 and finishing second to his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in Q2, Russell clinched pole position during Q3 with a stunning final lap, narrowly beating Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.

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However, the session was anything but simple for Russell, as he had to replace his front wing following an encounter with the wall during his initial attempt. The British driver confessed that he was worried his qualifying could have ended prematurely.

Russell expressed his excitement about securing pole position again, saying, "It's an amazing feeling to be back on top. Our speed has been impressive throughout the weekend, and I had a strong sense that the final Q3 lap would be the decisive one. The previous laps didn't matter in comparison."

During my initial run, I encountered a brief issue that required us to replace the front wing. For a moment, I was worried we wouldn't finish in time, but now I'm just really thrilled.

He remarked, "In the end, you have to take a chance occasionally, and I believed in my abilities. I was sure that if I completed a flawless lap, it would be sufficient to guarantee a spot in the front row."

"Securing pole position is amazing. Our next step is to turn it into a victory."

Russell admitted that he remains uncertain about the reason behind Mercedes' strong performance throughout the weekend in Las Vegas.

"I have to admit, it's been quite unexpected for everyone involved," he remarked. "We definitely need to take a closer look at this situation since this track is quite unusual."

"We haven't made any special preparations just for Las Vegas, yet somehow, the circumstances and the setup are benefiting us. I'm a bit puzzled as to why this is happening."

"For now, we're sticking with it, but as I mentioned, being fast in Las Vegas is unique due to the nature of the track. It's important for us to analyze this. Additionally, one of our other pole positions was in Canada, which also features cold and street-like conditions, indicating a slight pattern."

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Christian Horner has suggested that Red Bull might consider replacing Sergio Perez, indicating a potential change in their driver roster ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Christian Horner has hinted at the possibility of Red Bull altering their Formula 1 driver roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Sergio Perez has a contract for the upcoming season after agreeing to an extension earlier this year, yet his future is uncertain because he keeps falling short compared to his teammate Max Verstappen.

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As early as this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen has the opportunity to clinch his fourth consecutive drivers' world title. Meanwhile, Red Bull is facing a challenging battle to retain their constructors' championship title.

In the last 15 races, Perez has managed to score just 48 points, while Red Bull has fallen to third place in the constructors' championship. They trail McLaren, the current leaders, by 49 points, with only three races left in the season.

Red Bull's team boss, Horner, has stood by Perez in the past, but he acknowledged that the team "urgently requires" the Mexican driver to improve his performance.

"Sergio is our driver, and our goal is to maximize his performance," Horner mentioned to the official Formula 1 channel. "He has faced a challenging period in terms of his form in recent weeks and months."

"From the perspective of the team, it's crucial for us to have both vehicles performing at the top level as a duo, which hasn't been the case so far. Therefore, we're really hoping Checo can deliver impressive results in these final three races."

"However, it's impossible for us to secure the constructors' championship without having that."

Red Bull might choose to elevate either Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson from their affiliated team, RB. Additionally, Franco Colapinto, who is temporarily driving for Williams, has been suggested as a potential candidate to take Perez's place.

Horner mentioned that Red Bull has the liberty to postpone their final decision until just before the start of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, if necessary.

He stated that they have a clear understanding of the contract situations for all their drivers.

"If we wanted to, we could delay the decision until the Melbourne event next year since our drivers are already contracted."

"However, by year's end, we will review all the data at our disposal."

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Why Formula 1 Drivers Are Already Praising the New Race Director

The newly appointed Formula 1 race director, Rui Marquez, has quickly garnered a favorable reaction from the drivers.

George Russell and Carlos Sainz have praised the new Formula 1 race director, Rui Marques.

This weekend, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will feature Marques as the race director for the first time. He stepped into this role for the last three races of the 2024 season after Niels Wittich unexpectedly left his position.

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Although there have been worries about when the FIA made its decision, Mercedes driver and GPDA director Russell is pleased with how well Marques has adjusted to his new position.

"Honestly, I'd say it's positive," Russell remarked. "We've gone through a period where our feedback is acknowledged, but not much actually changes."

Several drivers mentioned the track boundaries at turn four as a point of concern. On a street circuit, it seemed somewhat excessive, so an immediate adjustment was made.

"As drivers, we desire to have our voices acknowledged and to witness immediate action, and up to now, the response has been favorable."

Carlos Sainz from Ferrari expressed that the drivers' gathering in Las Vegas was "the most productive in quite a while."

Carlos Sainz expressed that taking on the position of race director with only three races remaining in the season is an enormous challenge, especially considering the complexity involved in the role within Formula 1.

"He has a challenging job with numerous factors to manage, but right from the start, he's performed exceptionally well."

"The drivers' meeting yesterday was among the most productive we've experienced in quite some time."

George remarked on the situation at the exit of turn three, noting that they had also requested alterations to the pit entry. This was to ensure the line was more visible, as the pit entry line was practically invisible, causing significant concern.

"Today, when we arrived at the track, we noticed that the pit entry line had been expanded with a blue marker. Everyone agreed that this change was well-executed and appreciated. The meeting we had yesterday was very productive, and I feel optimistic because our feedback was taken into account."

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Mercedes perplexed by remarkable performance

George Russell acknowledges that Mercedes is baffled by their impressive showing during practice sessions in Las Vegas.

George Russell expressed that Mercedes is puzzled by their surprisingly strong performance at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

On the inaugural day of activities in Sin City, Lewis Hamilton led the field in both practice sessions, achieving a Mercedes 1-2 finish in the first practice with George Russell. In the second practice, Russell secured the third position, just behind Lando Norris of McLaren.

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Russell acknowledged that the reason for Mercedes' remarkable performance remains unknown to everyone.

"Absolutely, it was an amazing day. Honestly, we're a bit puzzled as to why things went so well, but I'd really like to explain it to you," Russell remarked.

"Clearly, it was just a practice session. Lewis performed exceptionally well on the track. From the very first lap, he's been fully committed, and the car has been functioning smoothly. However, we have to consider that we're on a street circuit, which tends to be quite messy."

"The pace is increasing with each lap. Just because we were quick today doesn't guarantee the same performance tomorrow, especially with the track likely to be three seconds quicker. It's a nice surprise, though."

When questioned about the possibility of Mercedes losing performance over the course of the weekend, Russell responded: "I wouldn't say it's something we're worried about. The idea that we're dropping in performance might not be entirely accurate."

"I believe the situation is largely due to our competitors not utilizing their maximum power. On Fridays, they might be operating with slightly more fuel than we do, which means they've traditionally been holding back a bit more. When they stop doing this, they return to their usual performance level."

"There might be a chance of that occurring again tomorrow, but the difference we demonstrated earlier today and later tonight has been quite significant."

"I'm certain that the other competitors will put in a lot of effort overnight to narrow the distance, but I really wish we can maintain our current performance."

During a break in practice, Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, humorously remarked, "I believe we are the champions of dirty tracks."

The first practice session is consistently impressive, but as soon as the track grip improves, their performance tends to drop. However, it's worth noting that the difference in performance was quite significant.

"It's the largest issue we've encountered in FP1 so far, so we'll need to spread some dust for all sessions tomorrow, whether it's during qualifying or another part of the day."

"I don't think the other teams will keep this edge for long. I truly hope that we won't lag behind as we have on certain tracks before, but instead stay competitive and contend at the front."

Lewis frequently travels globally to cover Grands Prix events for Crash.net. By often providing on-the-ground coverage, Lewis shares the narratives of key figures in the sport.

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James Vowles discloses that recent accidents have resulted in Williams incurring a staggering cost in the millions.

James Vowles highlights the substantial expenses Williams faces for repairing damages after recent severe crashes.

James Vowles, the head of Williams F1, has calculated that recent accidents have led to repair costs amounting to several million dollars for the team.

The team from Grove endured a tough sequence of races, experiencing five significant crashes involving drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto during the recent events in Mexico and Brazil.

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Albon couldn't participate in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix because a severe crash during qualifying left his car beyond repair before the race. His teammate, Colapinto, also experienced significant crashes during both qualifying and the main race.

Williams is facing a shortage of spare parts as the last three races of the season approach, leaving them in a difficult position. Vowles has disclosed that this situation has become a financial strain on the team.

"You've reached figures in the millions, somewhere between three and ten. These are significant numbers when you consider our current situation," Vowles stated to ESPN during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

"In my 25 years working in the sport, I have never encountered the level of damage we faced in Mexico and Brazil. We experienced five significant accidents over just two races. It's challenging to assign blame for these incidents; it’s simply a part of motor racing, but having five…"

"The incident resulted in the loss of five front wings, five floors, five rear wings, three gearboxes, two engines, and two chassis. It's an unbelievable amount of damage."

Vowles commended his team's tremendous effort during the interval between the races in Mexico and Las Vegas to ensure that both Williams cars were repaired and brought up to the same standards.

He described it as an enormous team effort to bring two fully updated cars with the correct specifications to Las Vegas, despite having limited spare parts available.

What makes me feel proud is that during a time of great adversity, when we were at our lowest and felt defeated, the team managed to rise up even more powerful than before. They were determined to show everyone that we are still in the game and will continue to battle for every opportunity until the championship concludes.

"It was an honor to guide the team during that time."

Lewis frequently travels to various countries to cover Grands Prix events for Crash.net. He is often on-site to report on the happenings, focusing on the key figures in the racing world.

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