Franco Colapinto's hopes of securing a place in Formula 1 for 2025 now seem to rely heavily on the involvement of Red Bull and Williams boss James Vowles.
The young Argentine driver has made a significant impression with his F1 debut, replacing Logan Sargeant mid-season. His performance, engaging personality and commercial appeal have caught the attention of the paddock.
However, Colapinto's current seat will be filled by Carlos Sainz next year. "He is warming up the seat well," joked Sainz, the Mexican GP winner, in his Ferrari. "Seriously, I think Franco is having some spectacular first races – he is doing a great job in Formula 1.
"I think that you can't ask for more than what he has done, so congratulations and keep going."
Despite his strong debut, Colapinto admits that he currently has "nothing" lined up for 2025, other than a fallback option as Williams' reserve driver. The possibility of joining Audi-Sauber has reportedly been ruled out for him, and even Vowles' attempt to secure him a loan move to Red Bull's junior team RB appears difficult.
Dr. Helmut Marko made the Red Bull position clear in Mexico, stating: "We are not going to train anyone for another team."
For Colapinto to join Red Bull in 2025, it would require a release or buyout of his Williams contract. In a possible twist, Williams boss Vowles was seen entering the Mexico GP circuit on Sunday alongside Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner.
"It is normal for teams to talk to drivers, and we will see how that develops," Vowles commented when asked about the Colapinto-to-RB rumours. "But as you can imagine, I can't say anything publicly when I'm in a sensitive negotiation."
A potential factor in the situation could be Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, whose sponsorship influence may play a crucial role in Colapinto's future. Slim, whose Telmex sponsorship may leave Red Bull due to competition with AT&T, hinted at other options for the young driver.
"If we have a chance to do something with Franco, it would be separate from Checo," Slim said, referring to Sergio Perez. "We have seen it in the past, when we sponsored several drivers, like with Bruno Senna and Pietro Fittipaldi, and when we had two Mexican drivers, like with Checo and Esteban (Gutierrez).
"We will always support the Latin American drivers. Franco has done very well, but our main project has always been to support the Mexican drivers, and Checo is without a doubt the one who represents us all," Slim concluded.
