Williams boss James Vowles insists he has no regrets over ready to advertise Franco Colapinto to a race seat as he wouldn’t have hit the bottom operating in the way in which he has.
Colapinto has impressed in his two F1 grands prix up to now, recovering from a poor qualifying to complete twelfth in Monza earlier than outqualifying team-mate Alex Albon on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and occurring to take his first factors as he got here dwelling eighth.
The 21-year-old’s solely different experiences behind the wheel of an F1 automotive got here within the post-season take a look at in Abu Dhabi final yr and in FP1 for the British Grand Prix, the place he took the seat of Logan Sargeant, who he would ultimately supplant for the rest of the 2024 season.
Sargeant misplaced his seat after various disappointing outings and main crashes however, regardless of Colapinto’s kind, Vowles is pleased with when the choice was taken to make the swap.
“It is an attention-grabbing query, as a result of partially lots of what we have been doing with him behind the scenes is growing him prepared for this chance,” he defined.
“So Silverstone was one of many first occasions he obtained into the automotive and he’d made a step clearly from the place we have been in Abu Dhabi the earlier yr. He made some steps throughout the winter. He’d made some steps in Components 2.

Alex Albon, Williams Racing, Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, within the Paddock
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
“If we might executed this at first of the yr, I do not assume you’d see the Franco you could have in the present day. I believe there’s fairly a little bit of preparation that we have been doing within the simulator and in any other case to get him to the area the place he’s now.
“By way of that remorse, I imply, making a call to take a driver out is likely one of the hardest issues you are able to do in my place and I had to ensure it was abundantly clear it was the proper place.
“For me, on the level the place we upgraded the automotive and we have delivered efficiency with it, the place it may rating factors, that is the proper line within the sand. So from that perspective, I am content material.”
Vowles admits Colapinto has exceeded expectations since his debut, having recovered from his personal follow shunt in Baku to turn out to be the primary Argentinian to attain factors in F1 in 42 years.
“We knew he was fast, that is why we put him within the automotive, however anticipated him to take extra time to rise up to hurry. In Monza, that was about what I’d have hoped for, successfully.
“However going to a brand new observe that you have by no means been to earlier than and been on the tempo, actually, in FP1, and even after an accident, coming straight again onto the tempo is a problem, and he is very, superb at absorbing all of the strain that is on his shoulders and simply delivering.
“He is executed a completely excellent job. Simply actually jumped straight into it, two toes first, and has been swimming ever since. However he is doing brilliantly nicely. To attain factors in your second ever grand prix, to be a couple of seconds behind Alex, is extraordinary.”
Colapinto’s future stays up within the air, with Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari to drive for Williams alongside Albon subsequent season however, as revealed by Autosport, a transfer to Sauber might be an choice.