Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
Williams is giving Franco Colapinto a chance to climb into the FW46 at this week’s British Grand Prix
Logan Sargeant is out at Williams.*
*For the first practice session at this weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the historic Silverstone circuit.
The team announced on Monday that Franco Colapinto, who drives for MP Motorsport in the F2 feeder program and is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, will be in the cockpit of Sargeant’s FW46 for the first practice session this weekend.
Colapinto has gotten off to a strong start this season in F2, where he sits fifth in the F2 Championship standings. The 21-year-old Argentinian driver notched his first win of the 2024 season with a victory in the F2 Sprint Race in Imola and has a pair of Feature Race P2s on the year, the first coming in Spain and the most recent coming this past weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix.
“I have so many emotions. I am extremely delighted and it’s a very important moment in my life and my career. I will be the most prepared I can; I will be doing a lot of laps in the simulator and studying the details needed to drive this year’s car,” said the driver in the team’s announcement. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing the new car after driving last year’s in Abu Dhabi. To be able to drive it at a track like Silverstone is a privilege, it is one of my [favorite] tracks and to drive it at the team’s home race means a lot.
“To all the Argentine fans – I hope you enjoy FP1 as much as I’m going to! It’s an important moment for our country and I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve been given. I’m going to give my all to make you proud!”
This will be the young driver’s first time in an F1 session, and his second time in the cockpit of an F1 car. He participated in post-season testing at Abu Dhabi following last season.
Sven Smeets, the team’s Sporting Director, praised Colapinto’s “encouraging” start to the F2 campaign.
“Franco has had a very encouraging start to his debut season in F2 and we are delighted to reward his performances over the past two years with his first FP1 session,” said Smeets. “We are proud of our talented group of drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy and it is important for us to give them the opportunity to progress and have these important chances as they move up the ladder. To showcase our talent at our home race at Silverstone is a nice moment and, of course, this is going to be a great day for the Argentine F1 fans.”
The announcement comes as rumors persist regarding Williams’ second seat for the 2025 F1 campaign. The team previously announced a new “multi-year” deal with Alexander Albon that will keep the driver in his current seat through at least the 2027 season.
As for the seat currently occupied by Sargeant, Carlos Sainz Jr. remains the driver on everyone’s lips for that spot, including Williams Team Principal James Vowles. Williams is viewed as the likely destination for Sainz’s services next season, although recent days have seen Alpine emerge as a more serious contender.
