Williams Racing driver Franco Colapinto has learned the hard way that a burgeoning Formula 1 career has plenty of ups and downs.
Franco Colapinto burst onto the scene with nine races remaining this season, replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams.
The Argentine scored points in Baku and Austin and aside from a shunt during practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, appeared to have justified team principal James Vowles’ decision to drop Sargeant due to his expensive tendency to crash.
However, in the past few races, Colapinto and teammate Alex Albon have only added to Williams’ cost cap woes.
Both drivers found the barriers during the torrential rain that fell during qualifying in Brazil, before Colapinto brought out a decisive safety car in Sao Paulo during the race when Albon’s car was too damaged to take part.
Colapinto then crashed again in Las Vegas, forcing him to start from the pit lane despite progressing beyond Albon during the qualifying.
Things went from bad to worse for the 21-year-old at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Colapinto overtook Perez in the pit lane during the Sprint Race when points were never on offer before starting from the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.
Unfortunately, he didn’t progress beyond the first corner, becoming collateral damage as Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg collided.
RB no longer interested in signing Franco Colapinto for 2025
A report from Planet F1 has shared more details about the final movements that are taking place in the driver’s market.
Only one seat remains open for 2025 at RB, however, the team have delayed offering a contract to a driver to fill the role.
Liam Lawson currently occupies the position and has impressed on his return to the grid, even if his performance in Qatar left a lot to be desired.
Sergio Perez’s position at Red Bull is very uncertain and that may open up a path for Lawson or teammate Yuki Tsunoda to leave the £965m-valued team to step up alongside Max Verstappen.
In the past, RB have been linked with Colapinto should they need a new driver for 2025.
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However, the report suggests that RB have ‘shut’ the option for Colapinto to join the team next year, coming to that decision at the beginning of the weekend in Qatar.
They are said to have turned down his services, while Alpine’s interest in Colapinto also appears to have cooled.
Christian Horner a big fan of Franco Colapinto despite Red Bull/RB snub
Colapinto has plenty of admirers in the paddock, both because he’s very quick for a rookie and comes with significant financial backing.
Red Bull will have to account for the number of sponsors they will likely lose if they drop Perez, which is why a move for Colapinto would have appealed.
Asked during a media session about the Argentine, Horner said: “He, for sure, is a talent that’s looking to earn his permanent place in Formula 1.
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“We have a great pool of talent within the Red Bull junior team, and I’m sure Franco will find his way onto the grid in the future.”
“You’re always keeping your eye on what the market is in all teams but we have the strength and depth in the junior programme.”
Colapinto won’t disappear from the Formula 1 paddock next year, almost certainly taking up a reserve role with Williams.
There could potentially be six rookies on the grid next season and if any fail to live up to expectations, he would be an obvious candidate to replace them.
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