“I’m still pinching myself to make sure it’s really happening. One minute I’m driving my F2 car, and the next minute I’m told I’m going to take part in an F1 weekend. It’s a dream come true and being able to do it at Silverstone makes it even more special“, he commented Frank Colapinto upon the official announcement that next Friday he will drive a Formula 1 car on the legendary circuit of Silverstoneas part of the official program of the British Grand Prixof Formula 1.
Colapinto will make history for Argentina in nothing more and nothing less than with Formula 1 in Silverstone. The young pilot will be in charge of drive one of the single-seater cars of the “Williams Racing” team in the first free practice of the British Grand Prix, which will be held next weekend.
“Beautiful things are coming”, he had anticipated last weekend in Austria, where he had achieved second place in the Formula 2 competition.
After his great time in the Formula 2 competition held in Austria, in which he managed to be second and get on the podium in the Feature RaceColapinto received this news, long awaited by the national pilot.
Last year, Franco had had the opportunity to spin in an F1 in tests that took place in Abu Dhabi. But this will be the first time in which he turns with a top-class car officially in a Grand Prix.
“I am extremely happy and grateful to Williams for this opportunity, which allows me to take the wheel only in my second year at the Academy and my first season in F2. Many thanks to everyone who helped me make this dream come true,” said the Argentine driver, 21 years.
What does this test mean for Colapinto? Unlike the trial carried out last year in the Middle East, this time there are other components. That time, the initial experience was necessary to obtain the Superlicense.
Now, the context is different. After a somewhat erratic start in his debut in Formula 2, Colapinto settled in the category prior to Formula 1, under the wing of the Williams team, with the team MP Motorsport.
Although it was in the plans that this possibility would be achieved during the current season, there were many speculations about which circuit. Many considered that it would take place on a date when Formula 2 would not race as the opening act for F1. Some mentioned Interlagosat the Brazilian GP, due to its proximity to Argentina and the impact that this would have. But it is very important that the test was held on a track that was already well known and used by the national driver.
Colapinto, in his victory in Imola, who little by little begins to dream of simulating it in F1. Photo: @Formula2
The news shocked. Colapinto traveled from Austria to Grove, in England, where Williams is based, to work with the team’s simulator. The driver will travel to Amsterdam to train with the Formula 2 team’s simulator and will return to Great Britain to join the Williams.
The company Bullet Sport Management manages Colapinto’s business destiny as part of his rise in international motorsport. Maria Catarineu y Jamie-Campbell-Walter They work together with the Argentine in the search for sponsors. In fact, along with the news of the test with Williams, the arrival of a cryptocurrency company that joined the project was also known. In the middle, the situation of the Argentine State, which among the general cuts, is a contribution to be strongly negotiated.
“At some point Colapinto will reach Formula 1”sentence Catarineu in an interview given to Fueling, after hearing the news. “Nobody here anticipates anything for you. You have to work every week and be ready when the opportunity arises. In 2025 Franco will do another year of Formula 2 and we are delighted that this is the case, but always with his sights set on the big goal. We must go step by step. But I have no doubt that Franco will arrive, I don’t know when, in Formula 1.”
Is Colapinto closer to Formula 1? It is premature to talk about this, when the pilot will just do his first test in an official training session. But there are encouraging data. Colapinto is in fifth place in the Formula 2 championship, with 75 points, 40 units behind the leader, Paul Aron (Hitech Pulse-Eight).
Franco Colapinto returns Argentina to Formula 1. Photo: @francolapinto
Colapinto is the third debutant (o rookie) in the tournament, he is above his teammate in Formula 2, Dennis Haugerand also his partner in the Williams Talent Academy, the Englishman Zak O’Sullivanwas not yet called up by the English team.
Beyond the sporting aspect (he scored points in 7 races this season), Colpinto has other important assets. His international school allows him to know in detail the secrets of world motor racing, with a long journey in Formula 3, now in Formula 2 and, of course, already inserted in the environment of the top category.
In addition to the language (it seems like a minor detail, but it has been a stumbling block in other Argentine experiences), Colapinto showed a firm personality within the demands which establishes a discipline as arduous as international motorsport, and more precisely the context of Formula 1.
Are you already up to compete in Formula 1? Of course not. The same philosophy that Colapinto has must be extended to the rest. Step by step. The Argentine driver has achieved his sporting promotion. Without rushing. Of course, in these instances, economic support is fundamental, setting the pace of negotiation and possibilities.
For now, this great opportunity was surprising. Franco Colapinto gets into a Formula 1, with Williams, in an emblematic place for the history of motor sport, such as Silverstone. The same place where in 1951, another Argentine, Jose Froilan Gonzalezentered the great history of the top category for giving Ferrari a victory for the first time.
2024-07-01 17:18:03
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