Franco Colapinto stormed into Formula One as Williams decided Logan Sargeant had one crash too many. The young Argentinian was afforded the remaining nine Grand Prix weekends of the 2024 season and he set about impressing the most senior members of the F1 paddock.
Whilst Logan Sargeant was the first US born driver to claim an F1 point in 30 years, that day in 2023 he crossed the line at COTA in twelfth position. However, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified post race for a technical infringement which meant their cars had too much wear on the plank which sits underneath the car.
The width of the skid block, as its officially called, is used as a gauge by which the minimum ride height of the car is measured. Mercedes and Ferrari had set up these two cars too low in an effort to increase the downforce created by the new ground effect car designs.
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The Williams team has for a number of years employed F1 drivers who bring large amounts of finance to the team, but in terms of performance are less capable. Prior to Sargeant the team had engaged Canadian Nicholas Latifi who across three seasons with the team and 61 Grand Prix starts had scored just nine points.
Sargeant was recruited prior to the arrival of Williams new team principal, James Vowles, who previously had been a senior member of the Mercedes team. Whilst he persistently gave the Floridian his backing, the writing was on the wall following Logan’s error in Zandvoort which resulted in a huge smash and another wrecked Williams car.
The following Tuesday it was announced that Franco Colapinto would step up alongside Alex Albon from his reserve driver role, and Logan became the latest in a number of North American born drivers to fail to make the grade in F1.
Immediately there young Argentina made his mark thus justifying Vowles decision to offer him his bog F1 break. During qualifying in Monza, Colapinto was half a second of the pace of his team mate Albon and was set to start the race from P18. Yet come Sunday, Franco drove superbly well finishing twelfth ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, the two Alpine and V-CARB drivers and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Colapinto impresses F1 paddock
Next tine out at one of the most physical circuits on the calendar, Colapinto qualified in P9 some three tenths of a second quicker than his team mate immediately behind him. As the chequered flag fell in Baku the Argentinian had made up a place collecting four valuable points for Williams and finishing line astern of Alex Albon.
Whilst Franco finished the season in disappointing fashion and three DNF’s in the final four rounds, his speed and skill as an F1 driver was in no doubt and the Argentinian driver will indubitably be on the F1 grid sometime in the near future.
That time maybe sooner than most would expect, having been snapped up by Flavio Briatore from Williams in January for an undisclosed fee. The rumour mill suggested the amount was in the region of $10m, which was half the price Red Bull had been quoted when Christian Horner enquired about Colapinto’s services.
Yet it transpires that Franco is in fact on loan to Alpine, but unusually for a rookie his agent confirmed he is on a multi-year deal, with Williams having the right to recall him in the future.
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Confusion over Colapinto’s contract
James Vowles revealed something of the nature of the agreement with the French owned team at the shakedown of the 2025 Williams car which occurred before the big F175 season opening event, “I’m trying to think how Alpine described it — that’s the important part,” Vowles said.
“The main thing is this: What was already described here, he’s with Alpine and he’s an Alpine driver for a number of years; their choice [how he’s used], fundamentally within a range of what they want to choose from that. After that point, I hope he comes back to Williams. Let’s see where we end up.”
The Williams boss use of the word “hope” suggested to many that Alpine had in fact signed the driver permanently to their ranks and recent comments from Flavio Briatore appeared to confirm the deal is not in fact a loan.
“He’s quick, he’s quick. Franco is a very very good driver, he’s doing some experience. But we believe in Franco. We fought to have Franco in the team, and for the future Franco is one of the most important assets for us,” said the colourful Italian.
Briatore tells Alpine to ready Colapinto
Whilst it is not unusual for a reserve driver to be talked up by his team boss, as ‘special consultant’ to Alpine, Briatore is entitled to speak to the future of the team’s reserve driver.
“In Formula 1, what is important is the timing. He is a nice guy, he respects the sponsors and has very good conversations with the engineers. He is working very hard in this moment with us. I am very happy,” said there former Benneton F1 boss.
“What the promise is, we try the best to make Franco in the position to do the job. This is what we need to do, between all the efforts with the engineers, to make sure he has the right car to do the job. After, we will see,” said Briatore.
What is unusual for a team boss or someone in the position of Briatore is to openly discuss that the engineers at Alpine have been tasked with giving a reserve driver, “the right car for the job.” Alpine have down played the notion that Jack Doohan’s days in F1 are already numbered, yet Flavio’s most recent comments suggest otherwise.
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Williams boss says Franco is at Alpine to drive
James Vowles too believes Doohan’s days may be short-lived in F1 suggesting he is there to get F1 driving experience. “That is why is there, and I don’t mean that is to the detriment of Jack [Doohan], I hope Jack has a successful time, but ultimately Franco is my driver who I want back in the car after a period of time, and he will return to Williams. That period of time is not set in stone where I can look you in the eyes and say it, but I can say he’ll be back at Williams at some point.”
F1 Teams often share reserve drivers to reduce the expense and improve the possibility they may get a stand in role for the odd weekend should the full time occupant of the seat is unwell, or in Kevin Magnussen’s case last year – banned.
So the fact Alpine have paid a large sum of money for a rookie suggests they have concrete plans for him in the near future. Further when questioned, Briatore refused to guarantee the Doohan will see out this year as a full time driver for Alpine.
“We will start the year with Pierre [Gasly] and Jack,” he told Le Parisien. “I can guarantee you that. Then, we will see during the season… I have to put the team in a position to achieve results.
“The drivers are responsible for finishing the work of around 1000 people behind them. They all work for just two people. If a driver doesn’t deliver results, doesn’t progress, he will be replaced. You can’t be emotional in Formula 1,” Briatore concluded.
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The powder keg that will ruin the Hamilton/Leclerc love in
At the first ever combined F1 launch in London’s O2 arena, Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were in perfect harmony. Despite Hamilton claiming he was there to win an eighth title, Leclerc was more diplomatic stating that he and Lewis would be doing their “best for the team.”
Yet how long will the love in between a driver who is desperate to claim his first F1 drivers’ title and the other who desperately wants to beat Michael Schumacher’s total of seven actually last?
Leclerc had told assembled media before the curtain raiser that he believed the Ferrari driver combination would in fact be a good thing. “Something I noticed we have a very similar driving style,” said the Monegasque. “We will need similar things from the car at least. This is my initial feeling,” Leclerc added. “It’s still to be confirmed because we haven’t driven that much together. But the little I’ve seen is that we tend to drive quite, quite similarly.”….. 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.
