£15.8m-rated F1 driver told his value has ‘absolutely nose-dived’ after the last three races

As the 2024 Formula 1 season enters its final race weekend in Abu Dhabi, only one seat is left to fill for 2025.

Visa Cash App RB are yet to confirm their second driver alongside Yuki Tsunoda for next season. Liam Lawson has been in the seat since the Singapore Grand Prix as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement.

The Kiwi driver has put in some solid performances with the Faenza-based outfit and looks very likely to land the RB seat in 2025.

However, the situation at Red Bull is very complex as the team are deciding what to do with Sergio Perez next season. The Mexican is enduring his worst season with the Milton Keynes-based outfit since he joined in 2021 and is under serious pressure to keep his seat.

Perez has reportedly been offered a marketing role at Red Bull, which would leave their second race seat vacant for 2025. Liam Lawson has been heavily linked with a promotion from RB, subsequently opening the door for another driver to join the junior outfit alongside Tsunoda.

Red Bull have been interested in Franco Colapinto, but the Argentine’s recent performances may have cost him a shot at driving with the team in 2025.

Franco Colapinto’s value has ‘absolutely nose-dived’ after recent results

The Argentine had a strong start to life in F1 as Logan Sargeant’s replacement at Williams. Making his debut at Monza, Colapinto finished eighth in Baku to score his first F1 points, before scoring again in Austin with 10th.

Red Bull confirmed their interest in the 21-year-old at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. But Colapinto, who Williams have valued at £15.8m, has endured a torrid last few races.

At that race in Sao Paulo, Colapinto crashed heavily in qualifying and the race. In Las Vegas, he found the wall again in qualifying and was wiped out in Qatar at the first corner, causing significant damage to Williams financially.

Christian Horner says Colapinto has been ‘truly forgetful’ in recent races, and speaking on the Pit Talk Podcast, Matt Coch highlighted that the 21-year-old’s value has taken a significant hit.

“Franco burst onto the scene with his first three or four races. His value just absolutely skyrocketed and he looked like a brilliant superstar of the future, quite possibly will be,” he said.

“But he’s entered this awkward phase of being a rookie where he’s started to crash, well not every rookie, Oscar Piastri didn’t do it. But most rookies go through this crash phase. Max Verstappen did.

“It’s just unfortunate that in the short run of races that Colapinto has got, that his crash phase has happened now, as Red Bull and even Alpine were looking at him as a potential candidate for next year.

“His value after Sao Paulo and Las Vegas has absolutely nose-dived and Red Bull has no interest in him. He’s off the radar, not even at RB.”

Franco Colapinto will now be looking at 2026 for a seat in F1

It has been reported that Red Bull had agreed terms with Colapinto over a 2025 seat, but the team have now rescinded that offer after the Argentine’s recent crashes.

RB have no interest in signing Colapinto and are now exploring other options for next season. Isack Hadjar is likely to sign with RB in 2025, with the Frenchman currently fighting future Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto for the Formula 2 title.

With RB seemingly off the table, Colapinto is faced with a spell on the sidelines for 2025. The 21-year-old could take on a reserve driver role at Williams or could even return to F2 to stay sharp in his year off.

There is no doubt that the Argentine will be looking at a return to a race seat in 2026, with there being some options possibly available. Colapinto could be a candidate for Cadillac when they join F1, or there may be another chance to negotiate with Red Bull in the future.