Things change quickly in Formula 1. Franco Colapinto knows this better than most, having joined the grid in spectacular fashion at the Italian GP. In the same way Colapinto’s value sky-rocketed, demand for his services has dropped in recent weeks.
Franco Colapinto becomes a victim of his own success
When Colapinto was announced as a Williams F1 driver, initial reactions was mixed.
Although Logan Sargeant’s performances deemed were below par, Colapinto’s chances of doing a better job were questioned.
His debut season in Formula 2, though more than respectable, wasn’t seen as sufficient evidence to justify a mid-season promotion.
Of course, these early doubts were put to rest almost immediately. His P12 result in Monza established a strong foundation, before a brilliant P8 result in Baku captured the entire paddock’s attention.
Before too long, Franco Colapinto was attracting offers from several teams. Red Bull and Alpine were among them, with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko speaking openly about their interest.
Red Bull look towards their own academy
For a variety of reasons, it would always be difficult for Colapinto to secure a 2025 seat.
Arguably the biggest obstacle was his contractual situation at Williams. Because he still has a contract with Williams, leaving prematurely requires agreement from the team.
Even though James Vowles has insisted that getting Colapinto on the grid is his priority, the still have interest to protect in negotiations.
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko emphasised that the 21-year-old’s existing contract was a huge limiting factor.
After a series of incidents in Brazil and Las Vegas, the Austrian team seem satisfied with promoting drivers within their own academy.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, rather than Colapinto, are now the front-runners to replace Perez at Red Bull.
Whilst Colapinto was arguably a victim of his own success and hype, the reigning Champions’ interest in him has declined regardless.
Based on Red Bull’s track record, this does not mean they won’t revisit the Argentine as an option in the future. For now, though, the doors of Milton Keynes are firmly closed.
Alpine’s interest also fades
Alpine, who have been less vocal in their pursuit of his services.
Various outlets have reported on Flavio Briatore’s talks with the Franco Colapinto camp in previous weeks.
The Alpine executive advisor was even spotted in conversation with the 21-year-old last weekend in Qatar.
However, with Jack Doohan contracted with the French team for 2025, circumstances were never on Colapinto’s side.
This did not mean that Alpine weren’t willing to enter talks with Williams and see what was possible.
As evidenced with Ocon’s departure, Alpine are not afraid to make bold decisions. Briatore certainly is not shy about being ruthless when he deems it necessary.
With that said, it is understood that Colapinto is unlikely to join team Enstone in 2025.
The financial cost of breaking him free from his Williams contract, alongside his crashes, hurt the youngster’s chances.
He is expected to spend next year doing development and simulator work with Williams – positioning to capitalise on any opportunities for 2026.
