Photo: Williams
Formula 2 racer Franco Colapinto will step up to Formula 1 for the remainder of the season, replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams.
Sargeant has been sacked after failing to score in the first 14 grands prix of his sophomore season with the team, and Colapinto is being promoted after spending a year-and-a-half as a member of the Williams Driver Academy.
The 21-year-old Argentinian made his F1 free practice debut with Williams at the British Grand Prix last month, and at the time team principal James Vowles suggested he would not move Colapinto into a race seat until they could further prepare him. However Sargeant’s continued poor performances has prompted radical action ahead of this week’s Italian Grand Prix.
“It is an honour to be making my Formula 1 debut with Williams – this is what dreams are made of,” said Colapinto.
“The team has such amazing history and a mission to get back to the front which I can’t wait to be part of. Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve but I am up for the challenge, and I’m fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex [Albon] and the team to make it a success.”
Colapinto was Spanish Formula 4 champion in 2019, and third in the 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup. The year after he starred in sportscars, coming third in the Asian Le Mans Series and finishing 12th overall in the Le Mans 24 Hours, but continued to race single-seaters and in 2022 he stepped up to Formula 3.
Over two seasons he claimed four wins in the FIA F3 Championship, and made his F2 debut at the end of last year with MP Motorsport. He remained part of its line-up for 2024, and is currently sixth in the standings with one win, two other podiums and three fastest laps. MP is yet to announce who will replace him for the remaining four F2 rounds.
“To replace a driver mid-season is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season,” Vowles said after announcing Colapinto’s F1 debut.
“We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle. We also believe in investing in our young drivers in the Williams Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what he is capable of across the final nine rounds of the season.”
He added: “I know that Franco has great speed and huge potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can do in F1.”