Franco Colapinto is ignoring hypothesis that he may safe a race seat elsewhere in 2025 amid sturdy reward of his efficiency at Williams from Lewis Hamilton at a media convention (pictured above) forward of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Williams promoted Colapinto rather than Logan Sargeant shortly after the summer time break, and the rookie has been extraordinarily spectacular in scoring factors in two of his 5 races thus far. Ending no decrease than twelfth thus far, Colapinto has been linked with a transfer to RB or Stake in 2025, however he says he’s unaware of whether or not Williams would enable him to go away.
“I believe I shouldn’t be the individual requested about that,” Colapinto stated. “After all, I don’t know the reply, and I assume sure, I believe if Williams can’t give me a race seat, I believe the traditional factor is that they permit me to go some place else and that they discover one of the best alternative for me for the long run. However I’m not the precise individual to be requested. I ought to be the final one.
“I’m right here with Williams this weekend and I’m going to attempt to do my finest right here in Brazil. It’s a really thrilling race, nice ambiance, and I can’t wait to be driving the Williams round Interlagos. I believe for the long run, will probably be nice that it occurs. I assumed I used to be not going to be racing in F1 subsequent yr, and that’s nonetheless my first view, so I don’t actually get too enthusiastic about no matter they’re speaking about.”
Colapinto’s efficiency haven’t gone unnoticed by his friends, with Hamilton effusive in praising the job the Argentine rookie has finished thus far and urging his administration to go away no stone unturned in attempting to safe a race seat.
“I believe he’s finished an unimaginable job, last-minute to be referred to as upon and thrown into the deep finish on this sport,” Hamilton stated. “The vast majority of us, if we’re fortunate to get within the sport, we’ve a little bit of a run-up.
“When you take a look at younger Kimi [Antonelli] for instance, he’s acquired a variety of take a look at days earlier than his race, I believe he’ll have one thing like 20 days within the automobile, which is unprecedented. Whereas for this man right here he didn’t have that — he simply jumped straight in and he did a improbable job. It’s at all times nice to see younger folks, younger gifted people get the chance to return by means of and shine, and I believe he did that within the first race.”
For his half, Colapinto says he’s not being attentive to rumors that Purple Bull might be inquisitive about including him to the workforce’s driver pool.
“I wish to be in Formulation 1. I got here very late within the yr, and I acquired a tremendous alternative by Williams, by James [Vowles, team principal]. Sven [Smeets, sporting director], everybody within the workforce gave me a variety of belief, confidence to place me in that race seat. And I acquired a tremendous likelihood that I used to be not anticipating to get this yr.
“I attempted to do my finest and have one of the best outcomes attainable to point out that I deserve to sit down right here — that’s what I’m attempting to point out and to attain. And if it’s not subsequent yr, I hope that it’s in ’26 or ’27.
“I’m probably not having a lot stress or something like that. I’m attempting to benefit from the second, benefit from the alternative that I’ve acquired. It was my dream since I used to be little or no to drive a Formulation 1 automobile and now to be right here doing these final 9 races, it’s very particular.”
Hamilton was significantly impressed by his personal on-track duel with Colapinto.
“We had an amazing little battle — it was super-safe, exhausting however honest, and I believe he’s earned his proper to be right here,” Hamilton stated. “There’s nonetheless a seat obtainable, and he’s saying it’s not for him to determine however my recommendation could be… I might be pushing on my facet, ensuring I do completely all the pieces.
“On the finish of the day he’s acquired to only proceed to give attention to doing his job each weekend, as he’s. Hopefully he’s acquired good folks behind him who’re doing the precise job to ensure he’s right here racing subsequent yr.”
