P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Williams’ Franco Colapinto must “prove his worth” to Formula 1 suitors like Red Bull after a “foolish” crash in qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Franco Colapinto, the Argentine driver, is facing uncertainty about his future in F1 as he competes in the penultimate Grand Prix of his stand-in stint with Williams in 2024. Despite impressing with a solid performance in his F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix, scoring five points, a recent unforced error during qualifying in Las Vegas caused his Williams FW46 machine to be totaled, putting pressure on him to bounce back. With Williams already securing long-term contracts with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz for 2025, Colapinto must now convince teams like Red Bull and Alpine to make contractual adjustments for him to secure a spot on the grid next year. While both teams have shown interest in Colapinto, his future with Red Bull may depend on the fate of drivers like Sergio Perez or Liam Lawson, while Alpine would potentially have to part ways with Jack Doohan for him to join. Despite the setback in Vegas, Colapinto’s manager remains positive about his future prospects and believes he has the talent and potential to succeed in F1. Campbell-Walter highlighted Colapinto’s ability to challenge his experienced teammates and compared his situation to Max Verstappen’s early career mistakes, emphasizing the value of giving him a chance to grow and improve in the sport.
