James Vowles: Franco Colapinto deserves his place in Formula 1

James Vowles, director of the Williams team, cannot speak highly enough of Franco Colapinto. After only two Grand Prix, the novice driver has demonstrated a talent and maturity that, according to Vowles, open the doors to Formula 1.

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« He is never disturbed, never panicked, never overwhelmed.

In an interview on the F1 podcast Beyond The Grid, James Vowles, the team director of Williams, expressed his thoughts on Franco Colapinto. His statements suggest a promising future for the young driver, despite the lack of available seat at Williams for the 2025 season.

“D) Franco mérite sa place en Formule 1 (F),” Vowles declared. This statement comes after only two Grand Prix races by the young Argentine driver, who replaced Logan Sargeant since the Italian Grand Prix. The rookie immediately made an impact, scoring his first points in just his second race in Azerbaijan. Vowles admitted to being surprised by his performance, “I didn’t expect him to be so quickly up to speed. I thought it would take him a few more races to get there (F).”

The boss of Williams also emphasized Colapinto’s ability to handle pressure. He can withstand all this pressure, all the thousands of things that happen to you, and manage them with ease. He’s never disturbed, never panicked, never overwhelmed.

Colapinto’s performances are all the more impressive as they rival those of his experienced teammate, Alex Albon. In Singapore, a circuit known for being tough, Colapinto was only 7 milliseconds behind Albon in qualifying, demonstrating his ability to quickly adapt to new challenges.

However, his future at Williams remains uncertain at the moment. The team has already confirmed its line-up for 2025 with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. When asked if Colapinto could have been retained if Sainz had hesitated, Vowles replied, « Carlos brings not only the ability to drive fast, but also the ability to progress the team. Where we are at Williams today, I need leaders around me capable of understanding what excellence looks like. ».

Vowles estimates that Sainz’s experience could be beneficial for Williams, as it can help the team progress more quickly. He acknowledges that Williams is making steady progress, but emphasizes that they need to make significant leaps forward to truly improve.

He highlighted Colapinto’s qualities. What Franco brings is this pure performance. There is no doubt about it, he can get the best out of this car.

Facing the situation, Vowles is exploring options for the future of the young Argentine. « We will do what is necessary, to some extent, to make it work », Vowles stated during the podcast. Regarding possibilities with other teams, he said, « I’m not sure where Sauber and VCARB stand in their decision-making process. »

Between uncertainty and opportunities

Vowles remains pragmatic nonetheless, in the Formula 1 driver market, particularly unpredictable this year, he recalled recent events, « Take the last 12 months, tell me if you managed to predict anything that was going to happen, because I didn’t. » The head of Williams ensures that even if Colapinto does not find a team to welcome him in 2025, he will remain « The best option available for everyone on the grid, including us. »

In the meantime, Williams is committed to preparing him as best as possible. Our responsibility towards him is to ensure that we conduct tests in a historic car, that he works with us, that we keep him in the best possible position so that, if an opportunity arises, he can seize it, explains Vowles.

The mutual trust between Vowles and Colapinto appears to be a key element of their partnership. What is really important to me is that I trusted him and, in return, he trusted me. This means a lot to us as an organization. It is now essential to find a way for him to become a professional Formula 1 driver,” emphasizes the director of Williams.

The 2025 driver market continues to take shape, especially with Sauber who has not yet announced its drivers for the next season. Colapinto’s performances and Vowles’ support put him in a good position to secure a permanent seat in F1, whether it’s with Williams or elsewhere on the grid.

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