Franco Colapinto to drive for Williams until end of season

Finally, what all hardware lovers have been waiting for is here: the team’s official account Williams race announced that Franco Colapinto will get to Formula 1 starting with the Monza Grand Prix next Sunday, September 1, and running until the end of the season.

“Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will compete with the team until the end of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship season and will race at the Italian Grand Prix alongside Alex Albon. He will wear the number 43,” the Formula 1 team said in a statement.

“Franco is a member of the Williams Driver Academy and made his Formula 1 debut this year in the FW46 at the British Grand Prix. His Formula 2 campaign this year has seen him take a win at Imola and podiums at the major races in Barcelona and Austria, in addition to seven other appearances in which he scored points,” he continues.

At 21, Colapinto will thus become the second Argentine driver in the history of the British team, after the memorable passage of Carlos Reutemann. The last time a motorist from our country got into Formula 1 at a Grand Prix, Franco had not yet been born: it was Gaston Mazzacane in 2001.

“It’s a great honour for me to make my Formula 1 debut with Williams. This is what dreams are made of. The team has an incredible history and a mission to fulfil: to return to the front, something I can’t wait to be a part of.”, were the first words of the Argentine.

“Coming to Formula 1 mid-season will mean a huge learning curve, but I’m up for the challenge and fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to achieve success,” Franco continued for Williams’ official website.

Rumours that the Argentine pilot could replace Logan Sargeant They accelerated in the final hours after the American crashed during free practice at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend.

The intensity of the accident was such that the car was completely destroyed and the driver was forced to say goodbye to his place in the team. His replacement was none other than Franco Colapinto, who will race the British team’s FW46 for the rest of the season, along with Alex Albon as a companion.

“The team would like to take this opportunity to thank Logan Sargeant for his hard work and contribution over the last two seasons. He competed in 36 Grands Prix and became the first American driver to score a point in the race at last year’s United States Grand Prix. Formula 1 since Michael Andretti 30 years ago, Logan will continue to be part of the Williams family and we will support him in his continued racing career,” the team posted on the official Formula 1 account of the driver who left his seat for the Argentine.

Team Principal James Vowles also had a few words for the young driver making the jump from Formula 2: “Changing a driver mid-season is not an easy decision, but we believe it gives Williams the best opportunity to fight for points before the end of the season.”

“We’ve just made a big upgrade to the car and we need to make the most of every opportunity to score points in a very tight battle in midfield,” Vowles continued.

The team principal spoke about the opportunities that are opening up for the Argentine: “We also believe in investing in our young drivers at the Williams Driver Academy and Franco has a fantastic opportunity to show what he can do in the final nine rounds of the season.”

Vowles, who has a close relationship with all of the team’s riders, also had a few words for Sargeant: “This is obviously incredibly difficult for Logan.who has given everything he has during his time at Williams and we would like to thank him for all his hard work and positivity. Logan remains a talented driver and we will support him as he continues his career in the future. I know Franco has great speed and huge potential and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do in Formula 1.“.

Colapinto will make his debut this weekend on the Italian track, where the Argentine will fulfil his dream of racing in Formula 1.