Williams confirms Alex Albon will miss the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a serious crash in qualifying

“Regrettably, following assessment of the significant damage to Alex Albon’s car, the necessary repairs could not be completed in the short period of time between qualifying and the race. The team is therefore forced to withdraw Alex’s car for the remainder of the Grand Prix.”

“Franco Colapinto will compete in the Grand Prix this afternoon.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Follow the action in a chaotic qualifying session at Interlagos as Norris leads Russell and Tsunoda after several red flags

Williams team boss James Vowles also reacted to the news that Albon had pulled out of the race, calling it a “heartbreaking” day for the team – especially after the driver's retirement last weekend in Mexico from another promising grid position.

“It’s a heartbreaking day for the team,” Vowles said. “We are here to race and no one wants to be in this situation.”

“The most important point is that all drivers who had incidents in qualifying are fine, including Alex and Franco. Despite the best efforts of our hard-working, talented and resilient team, there was simply not enough time to repair Alex's car in time for the Grand Prix.

“It's a bitter pill to swallow at the end of a tough triple race, especially when both riders showed tremendous pace this morning. We will focus on making the most of this afternoon with Franco and putting on a show for the incredible fans here in Brazil.”