Vowles may have bad news for Sargeant: 'Yes, that's an option'

Like a year ago, Alex Albon crashed in Melbourne. At the time, it meant the end of the race for the Thai driver; Friday's crash could just mean that the Williams driver will be out of action altogether this weekend. This is because the British team did not bring a third chassis to Australia, and the Williams car may be beyond repair.

Team boss James Vowles confirmed this after free practice. "It was a pretty bad accident," said the Briton. "The engine is damaged, the gearbox is in two pieces, and the chassis is damaged." So the problem is: "We don't have a third chassis here," Vowles explained. Williams must retire the Albon car if the existing one cannot be repaired.

Sargeant may have to make way

This is not to say that Albon will definitely be out of action in Melbourne. It is a possibility that Logan Sargeant may have to give up his car. In that case, not Albon, but the American must watch from the sidelines. Vowles confirms that this is an option for the team.

However, the team boss does not want to get completely ahead of himself. Williams will first make every effort to repair the damaged car on the Australian night.