Ahead of 2024 Formula One Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Williams Racing announced the immediate departure of their American driver, Logan Sargeant. He is set to be replaced by Franco Colapinto, who up until last week was driving for MP Motorsport in the 2024 Formula 2 championship.
Colapinto is set to debut as an F1 driver in the Italian Grand Prix weekend. He has been promoted from the Williams Driver Academy.
The Argentinean driver spoke in a written media session on Thursday, where he revealed that he had not known about this decision a week ago either. In fact, Colapinto was preparing for a normal F2 weekend with MP Motorsport when he was informed of this decision to promote him on Monday.
“For you to imagine, on Monday I was in the Formula 2 team with MP, preparing the race with my team for Formula 2 here in Monza. So you can imagine how late it was. I don’t know when they were thinking about it, but it’s an opportunity that I’ve been always ready for and that I’ve been waiting for so, so long,” shared Colapinto.
“Since I was a young kid I was always dreaming of this coming true and happening. And today to have the opportunity to be here speaking to all of you, it’s a pleasure. And I am just extremely grateful with Williams for the opportunity.”
The Williams driver admits that he was not expecting this opportunity either, but regardless he extends his gratitude towards the team for trusting him.
“It came very late of course, but I’m always ready, I was not expecting it to be honest. I cannot explain you how happy I am to be here with Williams. They have been very supportive and the opportunity that they have given me is insane.”
When asked whether team principal, James Vowles, had provided any sort of intimation for Colapinto to prepare himself properly, the Argentinean driver chose to provide a diplomatic answer.
“Well, I’m always ready,” stated Colapinto.
He further expanded that he has been a part of the team’s ecosystem for a while, with which comes the familiarity of knowing how Williams Racing operate. He mentions that the team has been happy with the work he has done for them, therefore that might have led to this decision.
The 21-year-old ran in FP1 at Silverstone, finishing only 0.4s slower than Albon.
“I’ve been the driver in the background for them for a while. Of course I did the reference in Silverstone, I did a good job there. They were very happy about the performance and I think I was probably in their mind from before.
“And of course, it’s something maybe I was not waiting for. I was fully focused on my F2 season, it was my job before and I was trying to do the best possible. I had four races left, I was preparing with the team as best as possible and this opportunity came.”
Colapinto admits that it saddens him to drop the stint with his F2 team, however when Formula One comes calling, one has to let everything go.
“Of course, it’s very sad to not continue with them. They have been my family for so many years, since 2020 that we started racing together. And I continue doing it step by step, championship by championship,” stated Colapinto.
“And today I have to leave them. But you cannot choose when you get to Formula 1. I came in this time, in this race, that is a very special weekend here in Monza. So I am super happy to be honest and I’m very grateful with Williams for the chance.”
Colapinto was also asked whether he had any preparation for the F1 weekend, and he replied in earnest, reiterating that he had been prepared for F2. He emphasized that there has not been enough time to prepare thoroughly — however, he is as ready as he can be.
“Well, not a lot. You can imagine I’ve got a lot of preparation to race in F2. I can go there and do a good job.
“We’ve done in a very, very short time a lot of things. It’s only Thursday today and in the very little amount of time and hours that we had, we worked very well. I prepared a seat, I prepared in the simulator very, very well.”
Franco Colapinto also stressed that the team personnel have helped him a lot in order to be prepared for the F1 weekend. Although, it definitely helps that he has been aware of the operations and systems of Williams Racing.
“The race engineer, the performance engineer, they are giving me all their information, all their tips and details to be quick as soon as possible. And to make that learning process a bit quicker. So yeah, luckily I think I am privileged that I was able to be in the simulator for so long in the past, even though I was racing only in Formula 2. Because at the end it prepared me a little bit more to Formula 1. To go through all those processes, you’ve got so, so many things to do in the car.
“And I think to be doing laps and laps and laps there, it helped me a little bit to be a bit more comfortable today. I sit in the car and I know the wheel and many things that are sometimes a bit difficult. I think especially with quite a few races to go, it’s just starting a bit more relaxed and trying to go step by step.”
Colapinto also shared that even for his first outing as an F1driver, the team has set targets that they are focusing.
“I think my main focus is focusing on myself, trying to do the best job I can. The team has very clear targets which we are focusing on.”
“So I am focusing on that too and trying to learn as quick as possible. As I said before, they are very supportive. Everyone has been giving me a very warm welcome.”
When asked whether he could elaborate what the targets were, considering that he is just a rookie in Formula One, Colapinto admits that he is not putting the pressure on himself rather he wants to follow a step-by-step approach.
“I am a rookie, I’m a rookie in Formula 2 as well.
“I’m not expecting much. As I said before, I just want to go step by step. I want to focus on myself.
“That’s the main thing I think, to be able to be focused on my job, to be able to do what the team expects. And I am, to be honest, more than sure that I can do that. So I can’t wait to jump in the car.”
