Franco Colapinto’s promising Red Bull talks are threatened by his Vegas crash, with his manager openly acknowledging the impact on future prospects.
Will Franco Colapinto replace Sergio Pérez at Red Bull next year? It’s not just a rumor: the Colapinto camp has started some negotiations with Red Bull, though a seat with Racing Bulls is also being discussed.
However, the Argentine’s stock has dropped in recent races. By crashing his Williams F1 twice at Interlagos and again in Las Vegas (with a more than 50 G accident), Colapinto not only damaged his car but also his reputation.
Campbell-Walter, his own manager, acknowledges that the Las Vegas mistake could seriously harm his driver’s chances for next year.
“This mistake is entirely on him, and it was a foolish one. The pressure of not knowing what the future holds is often worse than knowing. You never know how drivers will react under that kind of pressure.”
“Don’t get me wrong, every time he gets in the car, it’s a pressure situation. And let’s not forget, he’s done an incredible job. He’s not one of those young drivers who’s done hundreds of test laps.”
After this candid statement, Campbell-Walter still defended his driver, pointing out the difference in experience compared to someone like Andrea Kimi Antonelli, for instance.
“Kimi Antonelli tests every week. Williams doesn’t have a car for private tests (their car is two years old). He only did the young driver test last year and the first free practice at Silverstone. He doesn’t have much experience and hasn’t had many testing opportunities, due to budget constraints. And he carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders.”
“I can’t imagine what that’s like, and I think few people can. It’s easy to criticize from the outside.”
Before his accident in Las Vegas, Colapinto was even on track to replace Sergio Pérez, according to Campbell-Walter!
“Right now, we have a long-term contract with Williams. There’s interest. I’d say that before the qualifying accident, everything was looking good.”
“There’s a good chance he’ll be on the grid next year, but I think some people want to see how he performs in the upcoming races, which is understandable. They have many drivers, so there’s no rush…”
“We need to bounce back, keep going, and do the work. He has two weekends left to prove his worth.”
Colapinto’s manager then draws a parallel, somewhat bold but understandable from his perspective, with Max Verstappen’s arrival at Toro Rosso at just 17 years old…
“Max [Verstappen] was a rising star when he was young at Toro Rosso, and he made a lot of mistakes. Franco has made two mistakes. But I think people can see what he’s achieved alongside a very experienced teammate.”
“Logan Sargeant has never been seven-tenths ahead of Alex Albon. Franco did that [in Las Vegas], and it’s not the first time he’s managed it.”
“I think people can see that he’s limited in experience, that he’s a rookie. Will he get a free pass for one or two accidents in his early races? Probably, I hope so. I hope people will look beyond that and recognize his value as a person, because he’s a great guy.”
“I really feel for the guys at the Williams F1 factory because, honestly, they were probably building parts for next year’s car, not this year’s. They had to stop production. For the mechanics, who haven’t had much rest since Brazil, having to pull an all-nighter was a shock. You always feel compassion for them in this situation.”
Franco Colapinto under pressure in Qatar
In Qatar, Franco Colapinto undoubtedly cannot afford another mistake: one more crash, and his chances of heading to Milton Keynes, or perhaps Faenza, could be gone.
But the Williams F1 driver says he doesn’t feel the pressure for this weekend.
“Honestly, I don’t feel it that much. In motorsport, there are always highs and lows. The last two races were a bit on the down side.”
“I had five great races, then a very difficult Brazil, and Las Vegas was going really well. I think I was doing very good work, finding my rhythm until that small mistake in qualifying. The race was again very fast for me, and it was great.”
“But unfortunately, these small moments that happen, and tiny details that don’t go your way, come at a high cost.”
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Colapinto’s Crashes Push Him Further from Red Bull Seat Colapinto’s Crashes Push Him Further from Red Bull Seat
