F1 boss issues driver contract UPDATE following 2025 snub

christian horner, james vowles, monaco, 2023 — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 boss issues driver contract UPDATE following 2025 snub

Williams team principal James Vowles has provided an update on Franco Colapinto's 2025 plans

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Sunday 29 December 2024 10:57 Updated: 16:06

A Formula 1 team principal has issued an update over the future of one of the stars on the 2024 grid.

Following the season finale earlier this month at the Abu Dhabi GP, some drivers waved goodbye to the sport, unsure if and when they might be returning, including Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu.

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One driver who is facing an uncertain future is Williams star Franco Colapinto who, despite initially impressing during his unexpected stint in the pinnacle of motorsport, has been left without a seat on the grid for 2025.

The young Argentine racer was swiftly promoted from F2 mid-season when Williams opted to axe a struggling Logan Sargeant from their ranks, hoping Colapinto could help improve their chances on track for the remainder of the year.

The 21-year-old featured in a handful of expensive crashes during his short tenure, however, and knew that there would be no place on the grid with Williams next year thanks to James Vowles having already secured the signature of former Ferrari star Carlos Sainz.

There were reports that Red Bull had shown interest in Franco Colapinto

Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto were team-mates in 2024

Vowles reveals Colapinto's 2025 role

Colapinto has stepped down from his role as an F1 driver for now, although rumours that Alpine are still interested in taking him on should Jack Doohan not impress during the first half of his rookie season are still rife.

Now, following the conclusion of Colapinto's final 2024 race with Williams, team principal Vowles has explained to The Independent the plans that are in place for the popular driver should he not land an F1 seat at all next season.

"We’ll make sure he’s running a historic car testing programme, TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] we call it," Vowles said. "That will keep him fresh and honest.

"He’ll do full testing, TPC testing, simulator work. He’ll come here with us to be a reserve driver at the same time."

Despite Vowles' comments, it has not been officially announced by Williams whether Colapinto will remain in the sport as their reserve driver next season.

On his future beyond next season, Vowles discussed the option of a move to Cadillac as they get ready to enter the sport, adding: "I’m fairly sure he’s well enough respected in the business that he won’t only be a third driver here, but the other teams would very much like an opportunity to help Franco as well.

"We’ve been discussing with other teams. For transparency, not with Cadillac. I want to make sure he has a successful career. If we can’t offer that, then we’ll find a position for him and see what we can offer him in the future."

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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Lewis Hamilton Williams Franco Colapinto Kevin Magnussen Zhou Guanyu Abu Dhabi GP