Should anyone be under the misapprehension that politics does not affect some of the he decisions being made in the paddock the tale of Franco Colapinto illustrates this almost to perfection. The Williams academy driver replaced the hapless Logan Sargeant ahead of this year’s Italian Grand Prix.
During qualifying in Monza, the young Argentinian delivered as expected exiting in Q1 around half a second slower than his experienced team mate Alex Albon. Colapinto moved forward during Sunday’s race finishing his form F1 outing in a respectable P12.
Top ten finishes in Baku and Austin, Texas have see Colapinto rack up five world championship points which sees him already sixth from bottom in the table, just a point behind fellow rookie Oli Bearman and four points behind experienced Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.
Williams happy to loan Colapinto
Such has been the stelar form of the Argentinian, reports are emerging that a South American billionaire may be looking to revive the Argentinian Grand Prix last held in 1998. The Grand Prix had been revived four years earlier after a thirteens of absence from the F1 calendar.
Williams having signed Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon on multi-year contracts have no space for their talented youngster although James Vowles has indicated he would be keen to loan Franco out to another team.
Speaking to f1.com this weekend, the Williams team boss revealed: “We are exploring possibilities with a number of teams that are interested at the moment. Beyond there, it would be wrong to do anything more than speculate. There’s nothing to really communicate beyond that point.”
Vowles leaves the readers hanging on his every word as he concludes, “Hopefully we’ll [soon] have some great news to talk to everyone about, but today that isn’t available.”
Insider reveals Vegas deadline
With every team other than Sauber-Audi having drivers contracted for next season, it would appear this is the only chance for Colapinto to claim a full time drive in 2025. But the plot thickens as during FP1 commentary, David Croft drop hints the was indeed an announcement imminent concerning the promising Argentinian.
“My understanding is that Fanco Colapinto is not in discussion with RB but might be talking to Carlos Slim about future funding – but watch this space with Franco Colapinto because things might happen in the near future on that front – in terms of his potential appearance on the grid for 2025,” Croft teased on Sky F1.
“You know something obviously Crofty so why don’t you tell us?” Asked fellow pundit Karen Chandhok.
“I don’t know anything other than…. AFTER VEGAS….” Croft sniggered. Chandhok baited him that his insider leaked story wouldn’t go any further than those present in the commentary box.
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Carlos Slim – South American billionaire
“Its just you here, Bernie and I, no one else…..” the exit F1 driver pleaded.
“Just you two,” mused Croft. “No I’ve no idea where he is going BUT its an interesting period for Franco Colapinto at the moment who to be fair has created this interest by driving superbly in his races so far in F1.
“Things might develop after Vegas is all I’m saying.”
One of the key elements of the Crofty yarn involves the name Carlos Slim who currently sponsors Sergio Perez along with the Red Bull team. It was announced this week his telecoms company would be replaced by AT&T as a Red Bull sponsor but would continue supporting Checo in his F1 endeavours.
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Sauber-Audi driver decision made
Colapinto will need the kind of financial clout behind him that Carlos Slim can offer if he is to make it into Formula One, but more worrying for those plotting Franco’s future is a report today from German publication AMuS. It claims Sauber-Audi have made their decision on the team mate for Nico Hulkenberg next season and it is to be McLaren’s academy driver Gabriel Bortoleto who is leading the F2 championship.
The report states the contract is ‘complete’ and the announcement is imminent which dashes the hopes of Valtteri Bottas who was thought to be favoured by Audi in recent weeks. This also closes what appears to be the final door for Colpinto as all the seats on the grid bar Liam Lawson’s at RB aer now taken.
With this weekend being the only South American F1 event on the calendar it would appear natural for Sauber-Audi to announce the signing of a Brazilian driver, but the source reveals they are wary of a “media onslaught.”
With Sauber-Audi having finally decided on their second driver for 2025, this leaves the only seat at RB available. Yet Croft was adamant his source said the two parties were not speaking.
Mercedes pit lane start Brazil
Marko blames Perez for constructors’ loss
Dr. Helmut Marko appeared to confirm this to be the case. When talking about Sergio Perez’s collapse in form the Austrian advisor to Reed Bull explained: “The drop in the constructors’ championship to third place, the 200 points behind Max Verstappen, all of that speaks volumes,” he said of Checo’s contribution union to the Red Bull team.
Marko concedes the constructors’ title is now beyond Red Bull’s reach and points the finger of blame at Perez. Further the 81 year old Austrian suggested the Mexican had become a liability for Red Bull as he notes “the difference between first and third place is 17 million euros. That is a serious financial hit, especially for the employees, as their bonus is based on the constructors’ championship.”
RB have placed Liam Lawson alongside Yuki Tsunoda for the last six events of the year in what Dr. Marko described as an “evaluation” process. Were either driver to be promoted alongside Max Verstappen it wold leave a vacant seat in the sister RB team and Marko is transparent as to his main con tender.
No room at the inn – apparently
Isack Hadjar is the next in line from Red Bull’s academy a matter which Dr. Marko addresses: “The testing in Abu Dhabi will be crucial for his (Hadjar’s) future,” Marko said in Brazil. “A number of drivers will be there as well who could be considered for next year.”
Dr. Marko believes Hadjar is not just ready for Formula One but reveals “he was faster than Franco Colapinto in all the junior categories.”
These are not the words of a man chasing the signature of Colapinto and presently Red Bull have five potential in house drivers in or capable of commuting in F1. Add to that their least experienced option is deemed to be better than Colapinto.
Of course the “media frenzy” Sauber-Audi wished to avoid, would occur were Red Bull to announce the replacement of Sergio Perez whilst racing in the America’s. Hence Cofty’s “after Vegas” teaser would make sense – but both Red Bull and Sauber-Audi are both reported to have no room at the inn for Franco.
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Verstappen & FIA “inconsistency” as Leclerc gets wrists slapped
As Oscar Piastri claimed pole in Sau Paulo Sprint qualifying with his team mate making it a McLaren 1-2, the big story of “swear gate” rumbled on in the F1 paddock. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is the first driver to be summoned to the stewards for swearing since Max Verstappen in the latest crack down instigated by the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem in there run up to the Singapore Grand Prix.
At the Thursday FIA drivers’ press conference in the city state Max Verstappen dropped the F-bomb whilst describing how bad his car was in Baku to the assembled media. He was immediately sanctioned by the stewards but with the unusual penalty of community service, something which got under the world champion’s skin as he refused to answer questions properly in further “official” sanctioned press events across the weekend.
Last time out at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc found himself in similar hot water as he explained in the post race FIA press conference how he saved his car from a huge smash along the start/finish straight. “I had one oversteer and then when I recovered from that oversteer, I had an oversteer from the other side and then I was like, ‘f**k’.”.. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
