Franco Colapinto’s emerging talent is challenging Albon and Sainz, putting pressure on Williams F1’s future driver lineup decisions.
Günther Steiner believes that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will need to watch their positions as the threat from Franco Colapinto is already well established at Williams F1. The two 2025 seat holders will face pressure from someone who, according to the former Haas boss, has already impacted Albon’s standing.
“After the great Alex Albon, the most talented driver since Michael Schumacher, comes a guy whose name no one even knows how to pronounce. We’re almost wondering where this guy comes from,” he joked on the Red Flags podcast.
“I have a lot of respect for Alex; he’s a good driver, but I didn’t have Colapinto on my radar.”
“James Vowles, who has discovered some great talent, isn’t lagging behind either. This guy comes in and either beats or matches Alex Albon, and we all know Alex is a strong talent, but this guy doesn’t have a seat for next year.”
According to the Italian, Colapinto is clearly an interesting solution if Albon and Sainz end up neutralizing each other: “I think Williams will take a look next year when Carlos drives the second car, or the first car, however you want to call it, the other car, and see where Alex stands.”
“And if they’re both neck and neck, they’ll be thinking that they’ve got Colapinto, who is 10 years younger than them, costs a lot less, but doesn’t have a seat. For them, that’s a good situation, but I’m sure they’re trying to find him a place, or people should be looking at him because of what he’s shown.”
“Yes, he’s had a few minor crashes, but, you know, he always bounced back, got back on track, and boom, he did it again. It’s quite impressive. He’s here to show that he’s here to stay. And that’s what he’s done. In my opinion, he has shown in the three races he did for Williams that he deserves to be there.”
Stroll isn’t judged by his team’s standards.
Steiner believes Lance Stroll doesn’t show the necessary commitment for F1, at least in terms of personal investment, but he points out that Stroll is not under threat at Aston Martin F1: “Lance completely flies under the radar. It’s strange. People never talk about him, whether good or bad, he’s simply nonexistent.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad race driver. I’m not sure what it is. Obviously, we all know he doesn’t need to drive a race car. He’s financially set, so maybe that’s it.”
“If the car isn’t good enough to make the podium, he probably just waits for the next year’s car to see if it’s better. I don’t know. I don’t know the guy, I’ve never spoken with him, so I have no idea. But he’s one of those drivers you rarely hear about, even when he’s in the points.”
“When he’s not in the points, you hear even less. He’s just there. If you hadn’t mentioned him, I wouldn’t have even known he raced last weekend. I need to check the stats because he’s not visible. He’s never been young, he’ll never be old. He’s just there, above it all!”
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Williams’ Hidden Threat: Colapinto Eyes F1 Seat Williams’ Hidden Threat: Colapinto Eyes F1 Seat
