Franco Colapinto, a Formula 1 driver for Williams, is a top priority for Red Bull, but there is a major obstacle that needs to be addressed before pursuing this interest.
Red Bull is currently restructuring its driver line-ups in both of its F1 teams to improve competitiveness both in the present and in the future.
The likelihood of Liam Lawson taking Sergio Perez’s place in the senior team next to Max Verstappen is increasing following two impressive weekends replacing Daniel Ricciardo in the second RB seat beside Yuki Tsunoda for the remainder of 2024.
Perez had a bad season and performed poorly at his home race in Mexico, increasing the possibility of Lawson getting promoted quickly for 2025.
If that were to occur, Red Bull will have to find a different driver to pair with Tsunoda at RB for the upcoming season, but it is believed that promising young talent Isack Hadjar is not yet prepared. Currently, it seems probable that the F2 title hopeful will secure a reserve driver role and testing programme for 2025.
However, Red Bull has been satisfied with Colapinto’s displays competing against the seasoned and respected Alex Albon at Williams, after seizing the unexpected opportunity to fill in for Logan Sargeant between the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix immediately following the summer break.
Colapinto has earned points on two occasions, impressed with his daring driving, and adapted easily to F1.
Even though he faced his first major challenge in Mexico and had a significant qualifying gap to Albon, the race was progressing smoothly until a collision with Lawson disrupted his chances of scoring points once more with a more successful weekend.
The Red Bull team has begun asking about the requirements to bring Colapinto on board due to his talent being recognized.
While in Mexico, James Vowles, Williams’ boss, skillfully avoided a question about Colapinto potentially driving for RB next season by stating that you should not reveal anything during sensitive negotiations, so he couldn’t provide a clear answer.
Colapinto is scheduled to serve as Williams’s backup driver in 2025 while also participating in thorough testing of a classic car, in anticipation of the team running older equipment privately for the first time. Should he choose to stay in his current position, Colapinto might also consider joining Williams’s World Endurance Championship program.