Williams driver Franco Colapinto has dismissed rumours he’s within the body for a seat at Crimson Bull’s RB Components 1 crew, suggesting he might be on the sidelines in 2025.
Colapinto wowed the F1 paddock along with his sturdy performances and calm perspective as a mid-season alternative for Logan Sargeant at Williams. In his 5 races to date, the Argentinian has scored 5 factors and by no means completed decrease than twelfth, with one other combative show at Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix going unrewarded.
There is no such thing as a room for Colapinto as a daily driver at Williams subsequent 12 months, with the crew having already signed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who received Sunday’s grand prix, to fit in alongside Alex Albon.
However the 21-year-old’s type has turned sufficient heads for him to be thought of at Sauber and at Crimson Bull, which can have a slot at its sister RB crew.
However whereas there have been informal talks between Williams and Crimson Bull, with Williams boss James Vowles willing to loan his reserve driver out, Colapinto has dismissed options he might be on the F1 grid subsequent 12 months.
“No, for the time being, I do not perceive a lot of what they’re speaking about. I do not know the place it got here from,” Colapinto instructed F1 TV.
“I haven’t got any seat for subsequent 12 months, and for the time being, I am not racing Components 1. I am in all probability going to be racing someplace else.
Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
“So look, it’ll be possibly a 12 months that I am not going to be right here, however I hope to be exhibiting that I deserve a seat right here sufficient to come back again in ’26 or ’27. It’s my purpose, and it is why I am doing what I can race after race.
“That is why [after qualifying] I used to be disillusioned with the outcome and simply attempting to do my greatest session after session to attempt to present I should be right here.”
Whereas Crimson Bull is known to have some curiosity in Colapinto, driver advisor Helmut Marko urged the crew isn’t eager on taking outdoors drivers on mortgage when it has its personal junior programme, with F2 frontrunner Isack Hadjar additionally ready within the wings.
“The issue with him is that he has a long-term contract with Williams,” the Austrian instructed the Kleine Zeitung. “[Taking him on loan] isn’t attention-grabbing for any crew. You don’t want to coach a driver for an additional crew.”
Vowles has reiterated he feels Colapinto deserves a spot in F1 and the squad is aiming to assist him safe a spot.
“I believe in all of this stuff for the time being, let’s begin with the fundamentals,” Vowles instructed the post-race F1 present. “He has earned his place on the grid, and what we wish to assist with is discovering him a spot in that regard.
“What it seems to be like, I am unable to let you know for the time being, as a result of A, it is very delicate, and B, there’s actually not loads to debate proper now.”