Williams Team Principal James Vowles has said “you have to let good drivers race” and is open to working with Audi to land Franco Colapinto a permanent Formula 1 drive in 2025.
Colapinto was drafted in by Williams at the Italian Grand Prix as a mid-season replacement for Logan Sargeant.
Plucked from his rookie Formula 2 campaign, Colapinto was handed nine rounds to impress at Formula 1 level.
Colapinto had done just that so far, progressing from 18th on the grid to 12th in his F1 debut at Monza and scoring points last weekend in the Azerbaijan GP.
“In two races he showed the world he’s deserving of a place in Formula 1,” said the Williams boss (via Motorsport.com).
“So I have always been a firm believer that you have to let good drivers race.
“So we’ll see if we can find a way of working with Audi in that circumstance. That’s what I was implying for next year.”
Audi will complete a full takeover of Sauber ready for a 2026 debut on the F1 grid.
So far the German marque has placed Nico Hulkenberg at the team for 2025 with one seat left to fill.
Vowles: Colapinto will ‘always be within the Williams family’ amid Audi links
Williams has locked in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon to seats in 2025.
“We have our driver line-up cemented – I think it’s still the right line-up for Williams as we’re growing and becoming world championship material,” Vowles said.
“But I’m incredibly proud, like a father, of what Franco’s achieved, and want him to be successful, and also the right way of having him back here in Williams performing is making sure that he’s building his career. Simple as that.”
Colapinto would be jumping into the ring with Valtteri Bottas and McLaren prospect Gabriel Bortoleto in fighting for the vacant Sauber drive.
Bottas is looking for a long-term contract having joined Sauber in 2022 and Bortoleto currently leads the F2 standings.
McLaren has granted Bortoleto permission to hold talks with Sauber/Audi and Vowles has said Williams would be willing to loan its Academy product Colapinto to Audi.
“I won’t go into the contractual arrangements, but he will always be within the family,” Vowles said.
“And that’s what you need to know, but that doesn’t mean he can’t race elsewhere.”
