Alex Albon posts one-word reaction to Dutch Grand Prix qualifying disqualification

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Alex Albon has posted a one-word reaction on social media after the Williams driver was disqualified from his eighth-place finish in qualifying at the F1 Dutch Grand Prix.

Saturday at Zandvoort proved to be a worst-case return after the summer break for Williams with both drivers set to start the Dutch GP from the back of the grid. Logan Sargeant put the Grove squad on the back foot with a huge crash in final practice, which left his FW46 on fire.

Sargeant’s crash left Albon as Williams’ only driver in qualifying as the damage to his chassis proved too significant. The American stayed on the kerb exiting Hugenholtz (Turn 3) too long and touched the grass causing a high-speed spin. Now, Albon will start with him at the back.

Alex Albon was disqualified from qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix for an illegal floor

Albon was competitive throughout qualifying for the Dutch GP, as the Williams star took P9 in Q1 – just 0.497 seconds off the overall pace – P7 in Q2 – 0.272s off the pace – and P8 in Q3 – albeit 0.980s off Lando Norris’ pole position lap. But his pace was, ultimately, in vain.

Jo Bauer, the FIA technical delegate, initially found the floor on Albon’s Williams was outside the regulatory volume during post-qualifying inspections. Williams did not dispute the FIA’s measuring system in the stewards’ later investigation and must change his floor for the race.

It is likely that Albon will now start the Dutch Grand Prix from the pit lane after the Williams driver was disqualified from the qualifying results after claiming P8. The stewards’ ruling has also drawn a one-word response from the London-born Thai on X, simply saying: “Gutted…”

Williams had unveiled an upgraded floor at the Dutch Grand Prix

Sealing Williams P8 in qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix had marked Albon’s best result so far this season. Instead, scoring points on Sunday is likely to now be a dream result with the driver currently 18th in the standings with four points in 14 rounds slipping down the order.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Dutch Grand Prix including Prost and Piquet’s drama

Williams’ own measurements before qualifying had produced different results to those the FIA found after qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, thus resulting in Albon’s disqualification and likely pit lane start. It is also likely that the issues are linked to them having a new floor.

Like many teams, Williams introduced upgrades at Zandvoort with the Dutch Grand Prix the first round since the summer break. Their floor was even the main part of their new parts in the Netherlands, with Williams modifying the floor’s underbody, floor edges and inlet vanes.