Franco Colapinto has only competed in three Formula 1 Grands Prix, but seems to prove with every second spent in the Williams that James Vowles was right to trust him. For his first event in the premier category at Monza, the Argentinian performed his race admirably: qualified 18th, he crossed the finish line in 12th position.
The following weekend in Baku, Colapinto not only reached Q3, but he also qualified just ahead of his teammate, Alexander Albon, in ninth position. On Sunday, the 21-year-old scored his first points in Formula 1 by finishing eighth, just behind Albon.
During the Singapore Grand Prix, which promised to be complicated by being one of the most physical and difficult on the calendar for the drivers, Colapinto once again did very well. Author of an impressive start where he threw himself into the first turn while keeping the rope, he gained three positions and finished the race in 11th place, even attracting the praise of Sergio Pérez after having blocked during part of the test.
“He did an absolutely remarkable job”Williams principal James Vowles said at the team principals’ conference ahead of the Singapore GP. “He jumped into the water, both feet forward and he hasn’t stopped swimming since. He’s doing very well. And to score points for his second Grand Prix, a few seconds behind Alex, It’s extraordinary.”
“Oui [il a dépassé nos attentes]to the extent that… We knew he was fast, that’s why we put him in the car, but we expected him to take longer to reach that speed. At Monza it was pretty much what I was hoping for, actually, but going to a new circuit where you’ve never been before and being on the pace from FP1… Even after an accident, getting straight back into the rhythm is a challenge, and he’s very, very good at absorbing all the pressure that’s on his shoulders and just doing the right thing.”
What impresses Vowles the most is Colapinto’s ability to remain calm in the face of the pressure generated by Formula 1, having arrived in the discipline with a bang and attracting all the attention. “His calmness in the face of pressure [est sa qualité la plus impressionnante]”explained the Briton. “It’s always difficult to describe what happens to these elite athletes when they move into Formula 1. It’s a completely different world and the pressure builds exponentially, but he takes it all in stride.”
“You can hear him on the radio, just listen to his voice. He’s incredibly calm and collected, and he just wants to know more, more and more. So that’s the sign of a really good person. well, able to cope with what is happening.”
Franco Colapinto ahead of Sergio Pérez during the Singapore GP.
Photo de: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Franco Colapinto arrived at Williams to replace Logan Sargeant. The Argentinian has already scored more points in three Grands Prix than the American in a season and a half of Formula 1. A bitter statistic, but which raises certain questions. Shouldn’t Colapinto have been included in the FW46 earlier in the year?
“It’s an interesting question.”Vowles replied. “Because a lot of what we were doing with [Colapinto] behind the scenes was to prepare him for this opportunity. Silverstone [2024] was one of the first times he got in the car and it was a step forward from what he showed in Abu Dhabi the year before.”
“He progressed during the winter. He progressed in Formula 2. If we [l’avions mis dans la voiture] at the beginning of the year, I don’t think you would see the Franco of today. And I think there’s quite a bit of preparation that we did in the simulator [ces six derniers mois] and elsewhere which helped bring him to the position he is in now.”
“Regarding a [possible] regret [de ne pas avoir remplacé Sargeant plus tôt]making the decision to remove a driver is one of the hardest things you can do in my position. And I had to make sure it was the right time. And for me, the moment when we improved the car and got performance, which allows us to score points, it was the right line to follow. From this point of view, I am satisfied.”
