Written by Lujan Garcia, Edited by Meghana Sree
A month ago, Williams decided to replace Logan Sargeant with Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto. Colapinto was racing in F2, he was sixth in the championship and was part of the Williams Driver Academy.
Since being promoted to F1, he has raced in Monza, Baku, and Singapore, performing very well at all rounds, both in qualifying and in the races. He also ended a 42-year drought for Argentinian drivers by scoring points in a Formula 1 race.
From the moment they announced his participation in the highest category of motorsport, he has not stopped making headlines and surpassing all expectations. Undoubtedly, he is doing a great job for the team.
Now, what does Colapinto need to stay in F1 next season?
Currently, there are only two seats available for 2025. One at Visa Cash App RB, which is very likely to be occupied by Liam Lawson, given he is replacing Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of 2024, and the one at Kick Sauber. The latter one has not indicated any decision yet.
The only thing guaranteed is that Niko Hülkenberg is going to race for them in 2025, leaving the possibility that the team will renew either Valtteri Bottas or Guanyu Zhou, or will simply go for another option.
Back to the question, the first thing Colapinto needs is a free seat, which he already has. He cannot stay at Williams, as his seat will be occupied by Ferrari’s departing driver Carlos Sainz.
But, one can’t rule out that he could replace Alex Albon, if he continues to perform so well, add points to the team, and even outperform Albon. However, this is the least likely option for next season.
The second and most important thing needed are sponsors. Money plays a major role in Formula 1, and without the right financial backing, even the most talented drivers can find themselves thrown out of the sport.
Let's remember that last year Colapinto, who raced in F3, made a great campaign to get sponsors to be able to reach F2. These sponsors are still with him today.
Some of these are Argentinian companies, such as Mercado Libre (Latin American Amazon), Globant (technology company) and YPF (fuel company) that support the Argentinean in his dream.
Finally, he needs a lot of discipline and some luck. These last six races are key to see how he performs and if it is really worth a team's while to bet on him next year.
He has some tough races to face, like Qatar. His performance will be closely watched, not only by his current team but also by potential suitors like Kick Sauber. But that won't stop Colapinto from pursuing his dream.
n case Kick Sauber takes him as a driver, he will have to work very hard, as it is currently one of the weaker teams on the grid. Kick Sauber will be replaced by Audi in 2026, creating an added layer of pressure for the team to perform.
If Colapinto were to join them, he'd need to work harder than ever to help the team improve its standing and prove his own worth as a driver who can contribute to team development from ground up.
Colapinto’s journey in F1 is just beginning, but he's already shown he has the talent, determination, and the skill to excel in the sport. If there's one thing we know about Colapinto, it's that he's ready to face a challenge head-on.
Whether it's at Williams, Kick Sauber, or somewhere else on the grid, Colapinto has the potential to turn heads and secure his spot in motorsport's elite. All eyes are on him— now it's time to see if he can deliver when it matters most.
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