Does Franco Colapinto belong in Formula 1?
Without a steering wheel for next season, the Argentinian has proved he has what it takes to get one. But with the transfer market at a standstill, he could find himself with nothing in 2025. Unless... The driver could bring in a lot of money for his team, but also for F1, with increased visibility in South America.
Williams, Red Bull or Alpine? If we listened to the rumors, Franco Colapinto would be everywhere. Thanks to Machiavellian plans and arrangements between several parties. But for the moment, it’s on the couch. A situation that seems totally illogical considering how much the Argentine has shown that he has the level to race in Formula 1.
Arrived in Monza to replace a very average Logan Sargeant, he immediately found his pace. So, yes, the Temple of Speed is not the most difficult track for a first time. But his lap times were quite close to his experienced teammate, Alexander Albon. In qualifying, if he hadn’t made a mistake, he could have dreamed of a good position on the grid. But also of a result at the end of the Grand Prix. Starting 12th behind the wheel of an average car, it’s hard to do better.
Better performance than Logan Sargeant
A few days later, in Azerbaijan, Franco Colapinto impressed the F1 world by qualifying ahead of his teammate: 8th against 9th. But, most importantly, he finished in the points by scoring four points for his team. So in two races, he managed to do much better than the man he replaced in 36 Grand Prix… This statistic alone justifies his place for the end of this season.
When we signed Franco, we already knew he was incredibly talented. The typical thing behind it is that teams take on drivers like that on a reasonably long contract. We are lucky, Franco has done an amazing job,” underlines James Vowles, the man at the helm of Williams.
His performances have caught the eye of many teams. As mentioned earlier, we find Williams, Red Bull, and Alpine. But everything is at a standstill. Well, on paper. Williams has its two men: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. At Red Bull, we’re not sure what’s going on with Sergio Pérez. The Mexican is very disappointing and could be thanked, so the situation could open up for Franco Colapinto. And Alpine could sideline Jack Doohan, who was promised the position of full-time driver in 2025.
Financial aspect
« Everyone can see it, it is a great reward for us that he is exceptional, and other teams really want the opportunity to work with him.
All these movements prove that Argentine is a little nugget and that his talent is no longer to be proven. Moreover, he would not come empty-handed. His arrival at Williams in Italy caused a series of signings. His sponsors brought a significant sum of money within the Grove team. Enough to further fill the coffers of a team in need of money. The financial aspect is also important and must be taken into account in a world that thinks more about bundles of green bills than the purely sporting aspect.
Historical nod
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that he is still young and can make mistakes. This was demonstrated at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix where, in the rain, he destroyed his car during qualifying. His team’s work allowed him to start the race. But he put it back into the wall when the rain intensified. In a way, it is possible to forgive him for this off-track incident, given the many accidents that have occurred in the Brazilian rain.
Historically, Franco Colapinto would bring a breath of fresh air to Formula 1. He is the first Argentine since Gaston Mazzacane (2000-2001) to have a place in this discipline. Certainly, history is not important at first glance. But this aspect is very important since it is the opportunity to shine a light on a country that has hosted Grand Prix races. South American companies could also take advantage of this to showcase themselves through a promising young talent.
