Williams driver Franco Colapinto appears clueless in the face of the latest rumors about a chance at Racing Bulls in 2025 – “I probably won’t be driving Formula 1 in 2025”
Franco Colapinto has denied rumors that he is being discussed for a place in Red Bull’s B-team, Racing Bulls, for the 2025 season. At the same time, the Argentinean indicates that he will probably not be driving in the premier class in 2025.
“No, at the moment I don’t understand much of what is being talked about. I don’t know where that comes from,“ says Colapinto on F1 TV, although there are said to have been loose talks between Williams and Red Bull and Williams team boss James Vowles would be willing to lend the 21-year-old to another team.
”I don’t have a cockpit for next year, so it currently looks like I won’t be racing in Formula 1. I’ll probably race somewhere else.”
“It looks like I might not be here for a year, but I hope to show that I deserve a place here to come back in 2026 or 2027. That’s my goal, and that’s why I’m doing my best race by race.”
That’s why he was so disappointed with the result after qualifying, Colapinto continues – he only qualified in 16th place. “I’m just trying to do my best session by session to show that I deserve to be here.”
Colapinto has never finished lower than twelfth place
Colapinto has impressed with strong performances and a calm attitude since taking over the Williams cockpit from the disliked Logan Sargeant.
In his six Formula 1 races so far, the Argentine has scored five points and never finished lower than twelfth. But there is no place for him as a regular driver at Williams next year, as the team has already signed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz as Alexander Albon’s teammate.
But Colapinto’s performances have attracted enough attention to spark interest from other brands as well. That’s why Williams team principal Vowles has already indicated multiple times his willingness to loan him to another team.
When asked if he would also lend him to Red Bull, Vowles says: “He has earned his place on the grid and we want to help him find a place. I can’t say what that looks like at the moment because, firstly, it’s very delicate and, secondly, there’s not much to discuss at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko has indicated that the team is not interested in borrowing drivers from outside as it has its own junior program – with Formula 2 talent Isack Hadjar also waiting for a chance.
“The problem with him is that he has a long-term contract with Williams,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung. ‘Lending him is not interesting for any team. You don’t want to train a driver for another team.’