Williams driver Franco Colapinto believes that Williams should give him the opportunity to race somewhere else, in case a Formula 1 race seat is not available next year. The last vacant seat remains at Sauber, next to Nico Hülkenberg.
The Grove based team confirmed its full line-up for 2025 and beyond during the season. Next to Alex Albon, current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will join the team next year. Logan Sargeant was set to finish this season but was replaced by Williams junior Franco Colapinto ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Since then, the Argentinian has proven himself, scoring points in Azerbaijan and United States.
With Sainz joining in 2025, signing a multi-year deal, there is no place at Williams. In recent weeks, rumours emerged about a loan deal with Kick Sauber. Colapinto is one of four candidates in running for next year’s race seat at the Swiss team. A few days ago, there were also reports about a possible switch to VCARB. Both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko indicated interest in signing the 21-year-old.
Ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, Colapinto was asked about whether Williams would agree to letting him go for a rival: “Well, I think I shouldn’t be the person asked about that,” he said. “Of course, I don’t know the answer… I guess, yes, I think if Williams cannot give me a race seat, I think the normal thing is that they allow me to go somewhere else, and find the best opportunity for me for the future.
“I think, for the future, it will be great that it happens. I thought I was not going to be racing in F1 next year, and that’s still my first view. So I don’t really get too excited about whatever is there talking around. But, yeah, let’s see. But I’m not the right person to be asked. I should be the last one.”
Colapinto’s unexpected entry into Formula 1, taking over a car that struggled at the back of the grid with Sargeant, highlights how quickly the driver market can shift. Even Colapinto admits he hadn’t anticipated reaching F1, and is now focused solely on proving he belongs on the grid.
“I would like to be in Formula 1. I came very late in the year, and I got an amazing opportunity at Williams by James [Vowles],” Colapinto said. “So when everyone in the team gave me a lot of trust, confidence to put me in that race seat, I got an amazing chance that I was not expecting to get this year, and I try to do my best and for the best results possible, to show that I deserve a seat here.
“That’s what I’m trying to show and to achieve. If it’s not next year, I hope that it’s in 2026 or ’27, and I’m not really having much pressure or anything like that. I’m trying to enjoy the moment, enjoy the opportunity that I’ve got. It was my dream since I was very little to drive a Formula 1 car and now, to be here during these last nine races, it’s very special.”
After scoring a total of 5 points, Colapinto sits in 18th place in the driver’s standings currently. Teammate Alex Albon has 12 points to his name, making it 17 points in total for Williams.
