Franco Colapinto has been one of the standout drivers in the latter part of the 2024 Formula 1 season. The Argentine has seemingly caught the eyes of many in the paddock due to his consistency, outperforming Logan Sargeant by outscoring his career points total in just two races. His race in Mexico was impacted by his qualifying position towards the rear of the grid, with the Argentine starting from 16th while teammate Alex Albon secured an impressive top-ten grid spot.
After Williams put him on the contra-strategy and left him out on track for a late pit stop, he emerged behind Liam Lawson. The pair went wheel-to-wheel before making contact, with Colapinto receiving a 10-second time penalty from the stewards. Despite the penalty, many believe Colapinto has got enough to race in F1 full-time.
But there is only one seat left at Sauber and all signs currently point to it going to Valtteri Bottas, but journalist Tom Clarkson believes otherwise when speaking on the F1 Nation podcast. Tom Clarkson ‘sure’ that Franco Colapinto will have 2025 seatWilliams team principal James Vowles is reportedly ‘open’ to loaning out Colapinto to another F1 team, however former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello thinks staying at Williams is the best option. Discussing what Colapinto said on the recent F1 TV post-race show, presenter Laura Winter brought up what he said in regards to rumours and Clarkson responded by saying what he is ‘sure’ of regarding the Williams driver.
Winter: “If they have got Franco Colapinto coming into that conversation, then that’s five into four does not go. We had him on the F1TV post-race show, and he said ‘I’ve no idea where these rumours are coming from, and I do not have a seat for 2025 yet. ’ “So believe what you want to at the moment.
But I can’t imagine if a racing driver is making deals behind the scenes, they’re not going to be up front about it with me on the post-race show. Clarkson: “No, I agree with you. I’m sure Colapinto is going to be on the grid next year.
”Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty ImagesWhat Colapinto now has to do to be ‘announced’ as 2025 Sauber driverWilliams will have both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz as their lineup for the 2025 season, with Colapinto only doing the remaining four races on the calendar. If Colapinto can replicate his impressive form from Azerbaijan, Singapore and the US GP then he could stand a chance of being in the running for a seat at Sauber. McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto and Mick Schumacher are also both in the frame at Sauber, although the long the decision is delayed the more chances Colapinto has of proving himself.
Colapinto could also find some luck at Visa CashApp RB if Lawson is promoted to Red Bull in place of Sergio Perez, who is looking increasingly likely to retire at the end of the year.
