Franco Colapinto, a 21-year-old driver from Argentina, will race for Williams for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season, as announced by the team on Tuesday. Colapinto will be the first Argentine to participate in an F1 race in over two decades.
Expressing his excitement, Colapinto stated, “It is an honor to be making my Formula 1 debut with Williams. This is what dreams are made of. The team has such an amazing history and a mission to get back to the front, which I can’t wait to be part of.”
He will step in for Logan Sargeant, who has struggled to score points this season, and will race alongside lead driver Alex Albon.
“Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve but I am up for the challenge, and I’m fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to make it a success,” he added.
Colapinto made headlines in May when he became the first Argentine driver to participate in a Formula 1 Grand Prix since Gastón Mazzacane in 2001, taking part in Free Practice 1 at the 2024 British Grand Prix. This was his second experience driving an F1 car after the “Rookie Test” at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi last November.
Team principal James Vowles explained that the decision to bring in Colapinto is aimed at giving the team the “best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season.” He expressed confidence in Colapinto’s abilities, highlighting his speed and potential. The team is dedicated to nurturing young talent through the Williams Racing Driver Academy, which Colapinto has been part of since January 2023.
As he joins the team, Colapinto currently stands sixth in the Formula 2 championship with 96 points and becomes the second Argentine driver to race for Williams, following Carlos Reutemann, who competed with the team from 1980 to 1982.
The last Argentine to drive in F1 was Gastón Mazzacane, who raced in four events during the 2001 season. Overall, 25 Argentine drivers have participated in Formula 1, with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio being the most successful, securing five championships.
Colapinto’s journey in racing began at the age of four when his father gifted him a quad bike, eventually leading him to kart racing at ten. He moved to Italy in 2013 to compete in European karting and achieved notable success in Spanish Formula 4 in 2018. His rise through the ranks continued with competitive stints in Formula 3, where he secured victories and a place in Formula 2 for 2024.
Colapinto’s ascent has been supported by several Argentine brands, including YPF and tech company Globant. Notably, he has also formed a unique partnership with music producer Bizarrap, who designed a helmet for him, emphasizing their friendship and creative collaboration.
Colapinto’s F1 debut will take place at the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The first two free practice sessions are scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. Argentina time, followed by the final free practice on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Qualifying will occur at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and the race is set to start at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Sports channel ESPN and streaming platform Disney+ will broadcast the Grand Prix.