Franco Colapinto has full confidence that he will have a chance to reach Formula 1 and race at the highest level despite being overlooked for a drive next season.
The Williams test driver is on the verge of Formula 1 and debuted on an F1 race weekend ahead of the British Grand Prix, replacing fellow Formula 2 graduate Logan Sargeant in FP1.
Carlos Sainz will join the Williams team for the 2025 season, partnering London-born Thai driver Alex Albon in a very strong line-up.
Although Colapinto won’t be on the F1 grid next year, attracting a driver of Sainz’s calibre is a clear sign Williams are ready to battle higher up the grid in the coming seasons.
Franco Colapinto is adamant more chances will arrive in the future to race in F1
Colapinto impressed while driving the Williams FW46 at Silverstone in FP1 alongside Albon, lapping just four-tenths of a second slower than his teammate and making minimal errors.
Sainz’s deal to join Williams was then eventually announced later in July after a drawn-out process that dominated the headlines ahead of some Formula 1 events.
Colapinto hasn’t let missing out on the F1 drive affect him as the Argentinian races at the front of the field in Formula 2 and praises Williams’ line-up for 2025.
“Hope is always there and it’s the last thing you lose,” Colapinto told Argentine television channel DSports. “But I have no doubt that more opportunities will come.
“[Williams] are a great team. I already knew that if Carlos signed with Williams it was a very normal thing and something that would suit the team very well.
“They are two great drivers, teammates Alex and Carlos, and they make a very good team. So, that’s a good thing for Williams. They are two very experienced drivers.”
Colapinto has built a strong link with Williams since joining their academy last season on his way to fourth in the ever-chaotic FIA F3 Championship.
The 21-year-old won two races last season, coming at Silverstone and at the season finale in Italy, before quickly adapting to the more powerful Formula 2 car in 2024.
Franco Colapinto wants to work hard enough so Carlos Sainz ‘has to leave’ Williams in 2026
Colapinto admits that Williams choosing a rookie for the 2025 season ahead of Sainz, who is racing with Ferrari for at fourth year, would’ve required fewer expenses.
He added: “Carlos comes from Ferrari and well, obviously signing a rookie would have been a lot cheaper, but it’s also a bit of a risk. So, hopefully [another opportunity] will come soon.
“We are going to work hard so that in 2026 Carlos has to leave. Obviously, I dreamed about [joining Williams] and my managers were working hard for it.”
Alongside his duties with Williams, the Argentinian has put in some impressive performances during his debut season in FIA F2, sitting sixth in the standings with four rounds to go.
He pulled off a superb overtake at Imola, passing Paul Aron around the outside at Tamburello on the last lap to win the Sprint Race.
Colapinto’s victory on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend yielded one of his three podiums in Formula 2 this season, as well. He also secured second-place finishes in the Feature Races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Red Bull Ring.