WATCH: Williams rookie Franco Colapinto escapes 'deadly' crash at rain-soaked Interlagos

In a chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto, the rookie sensation for Williams, faced a dramatic incident as heavy rain wreaked havoc on the Interlagos Circuit. The young driver experienced a terrifying crash on lap 33 of the scheduled 69-lap race, leading to a red flag that forced a temporary halt.

Despite the severity of the impact, Franco Colapinto was able to exit the car unaided, signalling that he was fortunately unharmed, although the crash reminded fans of similar incidents in 2003 that also carried a high-risk factor. The race itself had already been marred by unpredictable weather, with rain and wind intensifying unexpectedly. 

Here is the video of the crash:

Full footage of Franco Colapinto's accident during the safety car period. #F1 #Formula1 #BrazilGPpic.twitter.com/AsakLso7oN

— Extreme Cars (@extremecars__) November 3, 2024

Weather heads providing updates on the rapidly changing conditions warned that even heavier rain was imminent. Earlier in the day, light rain had been predicted, but as the wind shifted, the weather turned more treacherous, complicating drivers' ability to manage traction and visibility.

A poor day for Lance Stroll!

Before the crash, the race had already seen its fair share of misfortune. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll experienced an early incident during the formation lap, spinning out and getting stranded in the gravel. Stroll’s mishap meant he couldn't start the race, adding to Williams' challenging day as they dealt with yet another disappointment.

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg has been black-flagged as he received assistance from Marsals which led to disqualification. With Colapinto’s crash causing significant delays, the race leaders — Esteban Ocon, Max Verstappen, and Piere Gasly — held an advantage as they had yet to make their pit stops, benefiting from the red-flagged conditions.