Williams open to helping Colapinto land second Audi seat
09/17/2024 11:47 AM
Williams team principal James Vowles has hinted at a potential deal with Audi-Sauber that would allow F1 rookie Franco Colapinto to join the grid full-time next season.
The 21-year-old driver from Buenos Aires was drafted in by Williams at the Italian Grand Prix to replace the struggling Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the 2024 season.
At Monza, Colapinto acquitted himself well on his F1 debut despite his lack of experience, concluding his race 12th after a solid and consistent display.
In Baku last weekend, the Argentine suffered a rocky start when hit the wall in FP1, but on Saturday he outqualified Williams teammate Alex Albon while making the top-ten shootout.
On Sunday, another impressive performance carried him on merit into the points, the young gun finishing P8 just one spot behind Albon.
However, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz set to join Williams as Albon's teammate in 2025, Colapinto's future with the team looks limited. But Vowles emphasized that the young charger still deserves a chance to race in Formula 1 next season.
"In two races, he showed the world he's deserving of a place in Formula 1," Vowles told Motorsport.com.
"So I have always been a firm believer that you have to let good drivers race. So we'll see if we can find a way of working with Audi in that circumstance. That's what I was implying for next year."
With a seat available at Sauber for 2025, which will transition into the Audi works team the following year, Vowles is open to discussions that could see Colapinto continue his career with the Swiss outfit next year, partnering veteran Nico Hulkenberg.
The potential move would allow Colapinto to further develop his skills, while keeping him within the Williams fold for future opportunities.
"Let's see what it ends up being because we have our driver line-up cemented—I think it's still the right line-up for Williams as we're growing and becoming world championship material," Vowles explained.
"But I'm incredibly proud, like a father, of what Franco's achieved, and want him to be successful, and also the right way of having him back here in Williams performing is making sure that he's building his career. Simple as that."
While Vowles didn't elaborate on the specifics of Colapinto's contract with Williams, he did make it clear that the team would remain involved in the young driver's career, even if he races for another team in the interim.
"So, I won't go into the contractual arrangements, but he will always be within the family. And that's what you need to know, but that doesn't mean he can't race elsewhere," Vowles added.
The potential collaboration between Williams and Audi could provide Colapinto with a valuable opportunity to continue growing as a driver, while also keeping the door open for a future return to Williams.
For now, as Williams focuses on its long-term goals, Vowles remains committed to helping Colapinto find the right path in his F1 journey.
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