Franco Colapinto is Formula One’s new rising rookie. Only bought in two races ago, the Argentinian driver has already scored points for the struggling Williams team.
He impressed in Azerbaijan, although he pushed the limits too far in FP1, bringing out red flags, saying this throughout qualifying and in the race he could’ve been a seasoned professional.
Colapinto finished eighth, scoring four big points and even asking how he can put seasoned champion Fernando Alonso under pressure via the radio.
Williams recruited the young driver after Logan Sargeant was axed from the team mid-season. It was Sargeants second season, and he struggled to get to grips with the pressure and pace of the sport.
The American driver often ended up in the wall, only scoring one point in the entirety of his time.
Who is Franco Colapinto?
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the 21-year-old started karting at age nine. He soon fell in love with the sport and decided this is what he wanted to do.
He won the Argentinian karting championships in both 2016 and 2018 and started his single-seat career in 2018, entering the FIA Spanish F4 season.
Here he managed a win first weekend running and a second place finish, being scouted in the process by Fernando Alonso’s team FA Racing, who ended up signing him for the 2019 season.
He then raced with FA Racing, finishing as the Spanish F4 champion, achieving eleven victories, 13 podiums, and 10 pole positions.
In 2020, success followed him further; he won the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and then, in the second half of the year, competed in the Formula Renault Euro Cup with MP Motorsport. In this he won twice, podiumed three times, and finished third overall, the highest ranking rookie.
Taking a big step up the following year, Colapinto competed in the Formula Regional Championships by Alpine with the same team, in which he achieved two Grand Slams, a victory, and an additional podium finish.
The next season, the young driver moved up into FIA F3 driving with Van Amersfoort Racing. He immediately got to work, taking pole in his first ever race, then going on to win two races and podium five times in his rookie season.
In 2023, Colapinto was signed onto the Williams Racing Driver Academy and completed another season in F4. This time he had sprint race victories at Silverstone and Monza and podiumed a further three times, finishing fourth overall in the championships.
This year the 21-year-old made his debut in F2, but at the Italian Grand Prix he was called up and will race with Williams in F1 for the remainder of the season.
What does the future hold?
The future is uncertain for the Argentinian, and while he is impressing so far, his inexperience may be a worry for future teams.
Williams Racing does not have a spot currently in their 2025 line-up after resigning current driver Alex Albon and securing current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
There are few teams with open spots left to fill, but Colapinto will be hoping to secure a place next season.
The Argentine will have his eyes on the last Sauber/Audi seat; however, Valterri Bottas, Zhou Guyanyu, and many more are also racing for the last spot.
