Williams are talking to more than one rival team about future opportunities for Franco Colapinto, including a potential place on the 2025 F1 grid.
Colapinto has impressed since replacing Logan Sargeant in the team’s line-up five races ago. He has also amassed a significant following and many of his supporters have turned up to this weekend’s race, which is the closest F1 comes to his native Argentina.Williams has already confirmed Carlos Sainz Jnr as Alexander Albon’s new team mate for next year. However team principal James Vowles said they are “exploring possibilities with a number of teams that are interested at the moment” about hiring him.
“It would be wrong to do anything more than speculate,” said Vowles in today’s press conference at the Interlagos circuit. “There’s nothing to really communicate beyond that point. When there is, I’ll happily talk about it because he’s an exceptional driver and I really mean that.
“Go look outside, there was tens of thousands of individuals here to support a driver that’s been in our championship for five races. He’s doing an outstanding job on-track. And as I’ve said from the very beginning: Earn your position and elements will come your way.
“But beyond there I think, especially when we look at the fact he’s a 21-year-old and my responsibility is also towards him and making sure we do the right thing, I want to make sure that we, when we have news, come to the world [then]. But there really isn’t much to talk about right now.”
Officially, Sauber is the only team with a vacancy in its driver line-up for the 2025 F1 season. However Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was seen visiting Williams’ motorhome in Brazil, prompting speculation they might hire him for one of their two teams.
Asked why Horner had been to visit them, Vowles replied: “We’ve recently signed a new coffee sponsor [and] he really wanted to try it. That was a good part of the conversation. He enjoyed it.”
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Red Andy (@red-andy)
1st November 2024, 18:18
Latest rumour is that Colapinto will join Verstappen at Red Bull, with RB keeping their current drivers. No idea of how accurate those rumours are, but would be another massive middle finger to Red Bull’s young driver programme if that’s the case.
TheOmega (@omega)
1st November 2024, 18:34
Heard this too, seems a bit far fetched.
Perhaps more likely that they will promote either Yuki or Liam, and then put Colapinto in the Torro Rosso, if anything.
Postreader
2nd November 2024, 11:07
Is it, though? He will have about the same racing experience as Lawson all things considered, and Tsunoda isn’t getting promoted with his temperament and recent blunders I think.
If the choice is between those three it’s not as farfetched. Maybe RB has some really favorable data of him vs. Albon to base their decision on.
Jere (@jerejj)
1st November 2024, 19:21
Ikr, & I read about that particular rumor in Joe Saward’s most recent Green Notebook post.
Jere (@jerejj)
1st November 2024, 19:23
Multiple teams even though no other team that already has both drivers confirmed for next season will suddenly make room for him.
I’m not at all surprised about the coffee answer as he also did that regarding Bottas in Imola (both did), & that aspect could very well be true, but certainly not the only reason for Horner’s visit.
Simon
1st November 2024, 23:06
“It would be wrong to do anything more than speculate,” said Vowles
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
2nd November 2024, 4:15
“It would be wrong for you to persist with your insufferable vendetta” said many on this forum, but that doesnt stop you either.
Ogden
1st November 2024, 19:57
Christian just dropped in for an espresso : – )
‘Very Droll Vowles’ – Jimmy’s new nick name !
Derek Edwards
1st November 2024, 20:13
Christian clearly thought he might find a Robusta driver in the Williams motorhome…
Riccard
2nd November 2024, 8:36
Save it for the caption competition 😆