Franco Colapinto expand on his F1 chance and how he’s more than happy to be racing even though he knows that he may not in 2025.
It was a late call for his FP1 running in British GP and even for this weekend’s debut in Italian GP at Monza with Williams. After Logan Sargeant’s FP3 crash in Zandvoort, his days were numbered it seemed like and the eventual decision was taken post the weekend.
After names like Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mick Schumacher and Liam Lawson were spelt out, Williams opted to promote its academy driver Colapinto, who was preparing for his F2 weekend with MP Motorsport on Monday when he received the call to drive in F1.
With it is certain that he won’t drive for Williams in 2025 considering they have Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz, the Argentine is more than happy to be racing for nine rounds at the very least when he didn’t imagine to drive in even one next year, leave alone this.
He doesn’t know about his future at the moment as he is more focussed to start in Monza and see-through the rest of the 2024 F1 season. The fan support has been immense too as Colapinto is the first from Argentina since 2001 when Gaston Mazzacane drove for Prost.
Colapinto also reflected on Sargeant’s ouster and having spoken to him, with Albon too revealing of a call. The Argentine is mostly looking to enjoy his stint and what happens in the future, he will look at it then and not worry now.
How it came about, ready for it –
Colapinto: “For you to imagine, on Monday I was in the Formula 2 sim, with MP, preparing the race with my team for Formula 2, here in Monza. So, you can imagine how late it was. I don’t know when they were thinking about it, but it’s an opportunity that I’ve been always ready for, and that I’ve been waiting for so long. Since I was a young kid, I was always dreaming of this coming true and happening. And today to have the opportunity to be here speaking to all of you, it’s a pleasure. And I am just extremely grateful with Williams for the opportunity. It came very late, of course, but I’m always ready. I was not expecting it, to be honest. But I cannot explain you how happy I am to be here with Williams. They have been very supportive and the opportunity that they have given me is insane. I’m always ready; I’ve been the driver in the background for them for a while.
“I did the FP1 in Silverstone, I did a good job there. They were very happy about the performance and I think I was probably in their mind from before. And of course, something maybe I was not waiting. I was fully focused on my Formula 2 season. It was my job before and I was trying to do the best possible. I had four races left. I was preparing with the team as best as possible and this was the game. Of course, very sad to not continue with them. They have been my family for so many years, since 2020 that we started racing together and I continue doing step by step, championship by championship. And today I have to leave them. But you cannot choose when you get to Formula 1. I came in this time, in this race. That is a very special weekend here in Monza. So I am super happy, to be honest. I’m very grateful with this chance.”
Preparations –
Colapinto: “Well, not a lot. You can imagine I’ve got a lot of preparation to race in F2. I can go there and do a good job. We’ve done in a very, very short time a lot of things. It’s only Thursday today and in the very little amount of time and hours that we had, we worked very well. I prepared a seat. I prepared the simulator very, very well. The race engineer, the performance engineer, they are giving me all their information, all their tips and details to be quick as soon as possible. And to make that learning process a bit quicker. So yeah, luckily I think I am privileged that I was able to be in the simulator for so long in the past, even though I was racing only in Formula 2. Because at the end it prepared me a little bit more to Formula 1, to go through all those processes. You’ve got so, so many things to do in the car. And I think to be doing laps and laps and laps there, it helped me a little bit to be a bit more comfortable today. I sit in the car and I know the wheel and many things that are sometimes a bit difficult. I think especially with quite a few races to go, it’s just starting a bit more relaxed and trying to go step by step. So yeah, I’m very happy for this chance and to be here.”
Focus, targets –
Colapinto: “I think my main focus is focussing on myself, trying to do the best job I can. The team has very clear targets, which we are focussing on. So I am focussing on that too and trying to learn as quick as possible. As I said before, they are very supportive. Everyone has been giving me a very warm welcome and I am happy to be there with Williams. I am a rookie. I’m a rookie in Formula 2 as well. I’m not expecting much. As I said before, I just want to go step by step. I want to focus on myself. That’s the main thing, I think. To be able to be focused on my job, to be able to do what the team expects. And I am, to be honest, more than sure that I can do that. So I can’t wait to jump in the car. It’s not difficult, imagine I was expecting to race in Formula 2 this weekend and now I’m in Formula 1, so it’s quite easy. I’m very happy to be here.”
Future –
Colapinto: “As I said before, I’m going step by step, race by race, corner by corner. I have no idea about next year. This is very late news and it’s an amazing news to have. So I can be more than grateful for this chance to be doing it here. There are 9 races left in the calendar, it’s amazing. And I am just more than happy for the chance. I was, of course, not expecting to win Formula 1 in 2025. And suddenly I got the chance to win in 2024. So imagine how happy I am today. And I’m going to take this opportunity with both hands and try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
Fan support –
Colpainto: “No, it happened a bit in Formula 2. When I jumped in Formula 2 they were also crazy. And now, of course, it’s a step more. But I’m just extremely proud of having so much support from my country. Not many drivers have that. And, of course, so many years without a Formula 1 driver from Argentina. It just made the fans be a little bit more on it. They are all looking at every race, at every moment, at whatever I’m doing. And that’s great to see. I got so much support from them. It’s something to be proud of. In the past, in Formula 2, of course, I didn’t have the budget to do it. So they helped me with all the social media noise to find some new sponsors. I think that was fantastic from them. I don’t see many fans doing things like that for their athletes. And they are super passionate. They are super passionate. It’s amazing when I go back to Argentina to see how easily and how quick you can give something back. They are supporting you all year. They are waiting up early to see the races. And to just go there and maybe see them a little bit. Take some pictures. They make them so, so happy. I am just very proud of Argentina as a country. Of course, it’s great to be racing here after 23 years. It’s a very, very long time. Let’s see where it goes.
Sargeant ouster, talks –
Colapinto: “It’s very tough. I think it’s never easy for the team, for the driver, for the driver coming in, to be changed in the middle of the season, and for all those things happening. It’s, of course, not nice for Logan. He had an amazing opportunity to get into Formula 1, he had some very good performances. I think he got up to speed very quickly in Formula 1. I’ve been working towards Formula 1 since I was very young and this opportunity, you never know when it’s going to come back. So I am, of course, taking the chance. I’m going to try to do my best. It’s, I understand, very, very, very sad for Logan, but I think he did a very good job. I hope he has a great performance in whatever he does next. He’s a very good driver. (Talk with Logan) We did, we did.”
F1 drivers say –
Alexander Albon: “Clearly it was quite a late decision, so I didn’t hear so long before the announcement. Obviously, yes, I did speak with Logan, but I’ll keep that behind closed doors. You know, great guy, and we got on very well. I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him. And yeah, you know, I feel for him, for sure. But yeah, I’ll leave it like that. I’m kind of focused on my own lane, so obviously more than anything, I know Logan personally. He’s a super guy and things didn’t work out but I’m sure whatever he gets on and moves on to do, he’s going to be very good. I know the pace he has and at the same time, of course, Franco is now joining, so there’s a bit of a learning curve for him, but I think he’s coming at the right moment. If I could choose a track to do my first race at, I think Monza is one of the more forgiving ones, better than Baku or Singapore.
“I think in some ways it’s a nice thing that he’s got, in my opinion. He knows the seat’s not up for grabs next year. There’s no pressure in terms of having to deliver and not trying to get a seat for next year. In some ways, I think it’s more just a bit of experience. I don’t know what Franco’s going to do next year, but the things you learn in F1 can help you a lot into, let’s say, if he does another year in Formula 2 next year. enjoy it. and of course there is a bit of a learning curve but he’s been in the car a couple times already so I don’t think it will be such a big thing. maybe more about the physicality. when we go to Qatar and Singapore. that would be a bit of a surprise I think or not surprise but a difficult thing to get used to. But yeah, I think also Williams are great at educating and teaching the drivers how to get the most out of it. So also, I think I’ll try and help him as much as I can as well.”
Sergio Perez: “I think it’s a massive challenge, definitely. But obviously, when you get the opportunity, you have to go for it. I think he’s been with Williams for quite a while. Now I think it will really speed up his learning. Now that he will be racing, he will see what Alex is doing, how the team works during a weekend. And that will open his mind so much to whatever he does next. I think he will be a much prepared driver in the future. So I will just recommend him to enjoy his opportunity, enjoy the moment, and maximize the chance.”
Lando Norris: “I guess I just wish him the best. I’m sure it’s not an easy thing. I think the main thing is he knows the track, he knows the car. It’s just like external pressure, but I think he’s a guy who can probably deal with it very well. I think the more difficult part of coming in mid-season is just we’re on top of everything. We know how the tyres work, how everything works, and we’re able to predict everything. For him, it’s the complete opposite almost. He’s going to go into certain times in qualifying and races just not being able to pre-empt what’s going to happen with the tyres. When they get to this temperature, what’s going to happen? How then do you have to drive? We’re prepared for… for everything and every step of the way. And for him, that’s going to be the tough part. But he’s here for a reason because he’s talented and he’s a very good kid. And I’m sure he’ll do just fine.”
Here’s Williams bringing in Franco Colapinto
Here’s Logan Sargeant when asked in Zandvoort
Here’s Logan Sargeant on FP3 crash
Here’s Logan Sargeant on Carlos Sainz hire
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact
