Williams F1 stint still a “dream come true” despite difficult end

Franco Colapinto has labelled his nine-race Components 1 cameo as a “dream” regardless of his powerful finish to the 2024 season with Williams.

Colapinto was drafted in by Williams to exchange the underperforming Logan Sargeant after the Dutch Grand Prix, making his debut at Monza in September.

The 21-year-old shone on his first couple of races with the crew, scoring 5 factors with an eighth-place end in Baku and tenth in Austin.

Following that honeymoon interval, the going acquired more durable for each Colapinto and Williams as a brace of pricey crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas dampened the joy round his arrival, discouraging Crimson Bull from making a transfer for him after contemplating the Argentinian for one among its seats in 2025.

However regardless of a troublesome ending to the marketing campaign, with two retirements in Qatar and Abu Dhabi past his management, Colapinto pointed to the positives.

“It hasn’t been the tip of the season I wished but it surely’s a part of Components 1,” stated Colapinto, whose future is unsure with Carlos Sainz becoming a member of Alex Albon at Williams subsequent season.

“It nonetheless was my dream come true and it was a tremendous expertise. I would really like it way more if we might have ended as we began, but it surely’s F1.

“Since I used to be very younger, I used to be ready for this chance and dealing in the direction of it and it is simply been an especially good expertise and really good moments with the crew. Very grateful for the crew.”

Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing FW46

Photograph by: Williams

Analysing his personal performances, Colapinto rued his avoidable Q2 accident in Las Vegas however stated he was in any other case happy with what he has achieved up to now.

“Since I began in Monza, I needed to be taught lots and I needed to maintain shifting ahead,” he stated.

“I feel it is a variety of ‘you’re pretty much as good as your final race’, that is how Components 1 works. However wanting on the greater image, I feel I did a reasonably good job.

PLUS: How 2024’s star cameos gave a preview to F1’s future

“I attempted to maximise the chance that Williams gave me. It was an unbelievable probability and I feel one thing I respect lots.

“The primary 5 rounds have been actually, actually good. After which I feel it was one other problem for Brazil with the inters for the primary time, the primary time in an F1 automobile within the rain.

“It was a troublesome expertise, however I needed to undergo these moments, I feel, as a rookie.

“Vegas was fairly powerful. Being powerful on myself, I feel it was a fairly large mistake going for it within the final lap, attempting to place the automobile in Q3.

“That is the place I look again and I simply assume that some errors might have been prevented, however I feel wanting on the total image and the expertise was my dream come true.”

Watch: Why Ferrari’s Engine is the Good Alternative for Cadillac – F1 Q&A