As Franco Colapinto captivates the Formula 1 scene at Williams, filling in mid-season for Logan Sargeant, speculation mounts on whether Red Bull should secure him for the 2025 season. With Williams set to partner Carlos Sainz alongside Alex Albon, they aim to find the Argentine talent a spot elsewhere. This has intensified rumours linking Colapinto with Red Bull, as Sergio Perez faces mounting pressure and the team’s junior programme appears disorganised.
Why Colapinto Pairing with Verstappen Isn’t Far-fetched
Consider Franco Colapinto’s meteoric rise; in under three months, he’s a possible candidate to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025. It’s a daring move, aligning with Red Bull’s tradition of bold driver decisions. Team principal Christian Horner reportedly supports this potential acquisition, although Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko favours promoting Liam Lawson from their junior team. Yet, integrating Colapinto would offer time to rebuild Red Bull’s junior programme.
A significant hurdle lies in Williams’ rumoured $20 million asking price for Colapinto, an amount Red Bull isn’t eager to pay. However, the benefits of Colapinto’s presence could outweigh the costs. As Red Bull potentially faces a $20m prize money reduction in 2024, thanks to a likely third-place finish in the constructors’ championship due to Perez’s underperformance, Colapinto’s sponsorships and massive fan interest from Latin America could be advantageous.
His growing fanbase also energises prospects of reviving the Argentine Grand Prix, although official talks with the Formula One Management have not yet commenced. On the performance front, both Colapinto and Lawson lack historical baggage with Verstappen, potentially making them suitable teammates despite similarity in speed to their current partners. Colapinto averages 0.179s behind Albon in qualifying, while Lawson trails Tsunoda by 0.034s, yet both could prove resilient where Perez may fail.
Colapinto demonstrates an unexpected poise, transitioning from nervous media encounters at Monza to an assertive paddock presence. Despite not fully escaping rookie errors, like his Brazilian GP crash, he handles the F1 pressure well. Red Bull requires a teammate who can edge closer to Verstappen—Colapinto might fit this bill, aiding Red Bull’s driver conundrum since Ricciardo’s departure in 2018.
Ignoring Hype: Colapinto’s Readiness Is Questionable
While the hype surrounding Franco Colapinto is palpable, propelled by his sudden emergence in F1 and the wave of Argentine enthusiasm he’s brought, it raises questions about how prepared he is for the formidable role of Verstappen’s teammate. Red Bull’s interest, despite Colapinto’s limited track record, may hint more at their current driver woes than his prowess.
Colapinto’s commendable debut, surpassing expectations at Monza and showcasing potential through solid performances in Baku and Singapore and earning points in Austin, still doesn’t conclusively prove his alignment for a top-tier car. His qualifying and racing performances suggest potential, but the data remains insufficient to justify this leap just yet.
The spotlight afforded to Colapinto is beneficial for Williams and could still serve potential teams in 2025. However, it is important to note that while his debut captures headlines, sustaining performance remains crucial. Past instances with drivers like Yuki Tsunoda show initial impressions can change, emphasizing that Colapinto must consistently deliver results beyond initial expectations.
Horner’s consideration of Colapinto arguably speaks to Red Bull’s challenge in securing an effective partner for Verstappen. Factoring in Colapinto’s appeal to Latin American sponsors and the team’s needs post-Perez, Red Bull may well view Colapinto as a strategic asset. Nevertheless, translating his promise into tangible contributions to their sporting success remains unproven.
Despite the potential, Colapinto’s path to becoming an F1 star demands substantiation through sustained performance rather than solely relying on speculation and media buzz.
