F1 boss issues driver contract UPDATE following 2025.....

F1 boss issues driver contract UPDATE following 2025……read more

Franco Colapinto, the young Argentine driver who had a brief stint with Williams in Formula 1, is facing an uncertain future as he approaches the 2025 season. Colapinto was promoted mid-season from Formula 2 to replace a struggling Logan Sargeant at Williams, in hopes of improving the team’s performance for the remainder of the 2024 season. However, despite showing promise, Colapinto’s time in F1 was marred by a series of costly crashes, and he was ultimately informed that he would not have a seat with Williams for the upcoming year. The team had already secured Carlos Sainz, the former Ferrari driver, for 2025.

In the aftermath of Colapinto’s brief F1 tenure, rumors have swirled about his future in the sport, with suggestions that Alpine may still be interested in signing him should their rookie driver, Jack Doohan, fail to impress in the first half of the season. Colapinto, who was born in Argentina and is still just 21 years old, has had a challenging but promising start to his F1 career. While his time with Williams was short, the team is committed to keeping him involved in motorsport and helping to preserve his potential for the future.

Williams Team Principal James Vowles recently spoke about Colapinto’s situation in an interview with The Independent, where he provided an update on the driver’s role with the team moving forward. Vowles confirmed that, although Colapinto wouldn’t have a seat with Williams in 2025, the team would ensure that he remains connected to F1. One of the key plans for Colapinto is to be involved in a “historic car testing programme” — known as TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) — which will help keep him “fresh and honest.” Vowles explained that Colapinto would be doing full testing, including TPC testing and simulator work, to ensure his skills remain sharp.

Additionally, Colapinto will be working as a reserve driver for Williams in 2025, although Vowles emphasized that this position had not yet been officially confirmed by the team. Despite this uncertainty, Vowles expressed confidence in Colapinto’s talents, saying that other teams in the paddock would likely be interested in his services if Williams couldn’t offer him a full-time role. He noted that there had already been discussions with other teams, though he clarified that these talks had not involved the incoming Cadillac team, which is set to join F1 in the near future.

Vowles also stressed that he wanted to see Colapinto succeed and was committed to supporting his career development. He mentioned that the team was working to ensure that Colapinto would not just be a reserve driver but would have opportunities to race in the future, either with Williams or with other teams in the sport. While it remains uncertain where Colapinto will land in the 2025 season, the Williams team is determined to help him find a path forward.

As for his long-term future in F1, Vowles seemed optimistic that Colapinto’s reputation within the paddock would open up other opportunities. He suggested that Colapinto’s skillset and potential would be respected by other teams, ensuring that he wouldn’t be relegated to a third-driver or reserve role indefinitely. While 2025 may not see Colapinto in a full-time racing seat, his journey in F1 is far from over, with plenty of opportunities ahead for the young driver.