Franco Colapinto, the young Argentine, was unexpectedly promoted to Formula 1 driver this year. He took over the Williams seat from Logan Sargeant in the second half of the season. However, he will make way for Carlos Sainz next year. Despite some costly mistakes in the recent Grands Prix, Colapinto seems to have piqued Red Bull’s interest. Williams team boss James Vowles is urging the Austrians to provide clarity soon.
“There is interest, but I can’t say more than that at this moment,” James Vowles responded to the media in Qatar. With two more Grands Prix on the calendar, Colapinto’s future remains uncertain. Behind the scenes, Red Bull is rumored to have shown interest, fueled by some comments from advisor Helmut Marko. “I’m following the situation through the media, just like everyone else,” Vowles admitted. “At this moment, there is nothing more than interest.”
“Red Bull is somewhat hesitant in this regard. They mainly want to see how the rest of the season unfolds,” Vowles explained. “I think they first need to determine which seats will be available at all. Only then can we establish what Colapinto will do, if he even moves to Red Bull.
Sergio Pérez’s Future
The big question remains whether Sergio Pérez will be allowed to fulfill his new contract with Red Bull. The Mexican signed for two additional years last summer, but it is now a public secret that both Visa RB drivers have a chance of being promoted to the main team. If Pérez is sacrificed, will he end up at Visa RB, or will he disappear entirely from Formula 1? In the latter case, there might be an opening for Colapinto at the junior team.
James Vowles is convinced that Colapinto deserves a spot in the premier class of motorsport. “Of course there were incidents in Brazil and Las Vegas,” the Brit referred to the costly crashes of the 21-year-old driver. “But he was incredibly fast and has real potential in that regard. Ultimately, you’re looking for a driver who remains calm under great pressure. So yes, he certainly deserves a seat.”
