Franco Colapinto on track in FP1 for Williams at Silverstone
The Argentine F2 driver, who freshly finished second in Sunday's Feature Race, will be taking part in his very first Formula 1 free practice session, replacing Logan Sargeant. The 21-year-old, a member of the Williams academy, is delighted to be taking part.
This is news that will definitely delight the many Argentine fans. As part of the FIA regulation requiring each driver to give their seat to a rookie during a free practice session, Franco Colapinto, currently fifth in the Formula 2 championship with his team MP Motorsport, will participate in the first free practice session this weekend at Silverstone.
“I feel so many emotions,” he said after this announcement. “I am very happy and this is a very important moment in my life and my career. I will try to prepare myself as best as I can; I will do a lot of laps in the simulator and study the necessary details to drive this year’s car.”
It will nevertheless be a second time for Colapinto with the British team after the young driver tests last year just after the end of the season. “I’m really looking forward to discovering the new car after driving last year’s car in Abu Dhabi. Being able to drive it on a track like Silverstone is a privilege, it’s one of my favorite tracks and driving it during the team’s local race means a lot.”
The Argentine takes this as a unique opportunity to showcase his talent even as Logan Sargeant’s place in F1 becomes increasingly uncertain for the next season. By offering this opportunity to Colapinto, Williams’ leaders show that they also trust their young drivers: “We are proud of our group of talented drivers within the Williams Racing Driver Academy and it is important for us to give them the opportunity to progress and have these important chances as they climb the ranks,” said Williams’ Sporting Director Sven Smetts.
Member of the Williams Driver Academy, the Argentine driver is in good shape. He won the sprint race in Imola in May and just finished second in the last two main races, in Spain and this weekend at the Spielberg circuit.
While places in F1 are expensive, Colapinto intends to prove to his team that they are right to trust him and wants to capitalize on his positive momentum to catch the attention of his leaders to achieve every single-seater driver’s dream: a spot on the Formula 1 grid.
