Colapinto latest dramatic twist

Last Updated on November 8 2024, 11:49 am

Franco Colapinto is the hottest property in Formula One at present. The previously little known Argentinian junior racer has exploded onto the F1 scene since the hapless Logan Sargeant was sacked by Williams ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

Last time out in Brazil, tens of thousands of Argentinian fans made the trek across South America to see Colapinto, some enduring more than 60 hour return bus journeys just to catch a glimpse the continents latest F1 protege.

In his six F1 races to date and despite having never raced at most of the circuits, Colapinto has scored five points to his team mate’s eight across the entire season. Sargeant was pointless before he was replaced.

 

 

 

Marko offers $20m

With Sainz under contract for the next two years and Albon too committed to the long term with Williams, the team now have a collective headache as James Vowles desperately searches for a place for Williams’ academy driver.

The Williams boss went public in Mexico, suggesting that Sauber-Audi should loan their young star, but the German project has dramatically taken a different route in recent hours. In fact Sauber may well have been sold already to Qatari investors, an announcement is expected next time out in the middle east.

Dr. Helmet Marko has hinted Red Bull could pay Williams $20 million for them to relinquish all interest in the driver and so a loan deal with the world champions looks unlikely. Sauber, the only other team with a seat for next year announced this week they have finalised a deal with fellow South American Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA).

Whilst the Red Bull interest for Colapinto remains current another potential door has opened for Franco, one which was apparently firmly closed until this week.

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Italian media claim Flavio in the mix

Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport is now reporting, Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore is in the hunt for the young Argentinian driver. This despite the team having announced rookie Jack Doohan as Pierre Gasly’s team mate for 2025.

On paper Colapinto and Doohan have similar junior international experience and success. As was the case with Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guangyu and Logan Sargeant, neither have won the FIA F3 or F2 series, which in Hamilton and Rosberg’s days was almost a pre-requisite to be considered for an F1 drive.

Now it appears Flavio has had a change of heart and could drop Doohan in favour of Colapinto. Of course the Williams academy driver will have nine Grand Prix under his belt come the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, Doohan has by way of contrast just 5,000 km of testing and mostly not in the current design of F1 cars.

Then there’s the matter of sponsorship for the cash strapped Alpine which has embarked on a draconian cost cutting exercise which has included the closure of the power unit HQ in Viry-Chatilon. Franco counts a number of big money sponsors in his corner and with F1’s popularity about to explode in Argentina and Brazil CEO Stefano Domenicali has already suggested F1 examines the possibility for a return of the Argentinian Grand Prix.

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Lawson star slightly tarnished

On the flip side for Alpine, Williams are demanding a fairly hefty price to loan Colapinto to the Enstone based team which moves the dial back in favour of Red Bull.

Following months of uncertainty and speculation, it finally appears to be the case that Red Bull will one way or the other be parting ways with their Mexican driver, Sergio Perez. Checo has clung to his seat by a thread since the summer break, when the team declared his results would improve.

The natural progression would see Liam Lawson move up alongside Max from RB and Colapinto fill in behind at the sister F1 team. However, Milton Keynes has been abuzz with whispers this week that Colapinto could in fact directly replace Perez, leaving Lawson alongside Yuki Tsunoda.

This storyline is given credence since Lawson replacing Daniel Ricciardo has initiated on track friction between himself and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. In Mexico the pair were involved in a huge battle which saw Perez suffer big time damage and Lawson flipping him the bird next time around.

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Tsunoda leaves with Honda

Lawson was forced to apologise for his middle finger wave as Dr. Marko described his driving style as “too impetuous.”

Yuki Tsunoda will complete his fifth year with Red Bull in 2025, but as Honda move on to supply Aston Martin the following year, Tsunoda is certain to see his Red Bull term complete. This leaves Red Bull with potentially three seats to fill in two years and confidence in their up and coming junior drivers appears to lacking.

Next in line for an F1 driver is Ayumu Iwasa who came fourth in last year’s F2 competition and is currently competing in the Japanese Super Formula, where the cars are closer to F1 style performance than in other feeder series.

Iwasa was challenging for the series win during the early rounds, but has faded to a distant fourth with Super Formula entering its final weekend.

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Red Bull juniors ready – thin on the ground

Next up is Isaac Hadjar currently competing for the FIA F2 championship, battling at the top with Gabriel Bortoleto recently signed to Sauber-Audi. Hadjar is referenced far more than Iwasa by Dr. Helmut Marko, when the Austrian is waxing lyrical over the Red Bull juniors.

Reading between the lines, Dr. Marko has appeared lukewarm warm on Hadjar’s readiness for Formula One and his enthusiasm has been lavished on another Red Bull junior in Arvin Lindblad.

Following his comprehensive victories at Silverstone, Marko wrote of his 16 year old protege: “Arvid Lindblad shone in Formula 3. He was a rookie who went straight from Formula 4 to Formula 3 and won both races. He is only 16 years old and we are delighted that he can now drive in Formula 1 again at 17.”

Marko is referring to the fact the FIA revisited its minimum age rules for F1 participation this year, agreeing they would look at drivers on a case by case basis and not merely their chronological status alone.

Should this analysis is close to the mark, then Red Bull do have a problem with the pipeline of drivers, thus making the Colapinto move an ever closer reality. Further the lack of a swift denial from Alpine, suggests Flavio is working his dark magic once again.

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Audi sell their F1 investment

A nigh on ten year project instigated by the FIA to increase the number of manufacturers in Formula One lies in smoking ruins. Porsche and Audi were early early contributors to the FIA working party looking to make the sport more attractive to new OEM’s.

Reading behind the lines of Christian Horner’s comments when the talks broke down with Porsche, the German manufacturer had wanted to buy a 50% stake in the Red Bull Racing group of companies. The Red Bull boss talked of his team needing to retain the ability to make quick decisions, in a likely contrast to the corporate style of the disparate boards amongst the VAG group.

With Porsche out of the running, Audi continued with their intra-company rivalry and set about buying up the Sauber group of companies… READ MORE