Before the 2024 season even started it was already dubbed as a “silly season”. With Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari announcement starting the year off, it’s not surprising that things have only gotten crazier since then. One of the things that happened was Williams dropping Logan Sargeant and picking up Franco Colapinto. As Sargeant consistently had bad performances, Colapointo was the best business decision to make.
With the grid continuing to develop and expand, we have seen the addition of another rookie (Liam Lawson) and the subtraction of seats available. Currently, only two seats are still open for the 2025 season. Three out of 20 seats are already filled up with rookies. If Liam Lawson & Franco Colapinto can prove themselves, that would make five rookies on the grid.
Franco Colapinto outperforms teammate, Alex Albon at Austin
Franco Colapinto is on a hot streak as he lands within the top 10 for the second time in four races. Despite starting behind his teammate, Alex Albon, Colapinto managed to outplace him by 6 positions.
Both of the Williams drivers started towards the back of the grid with Albon at P14 and Colapinto at P15. However, only Colapinto managed to gain any positions moving up to 10th place for 1 point. Albon ended up placing 16th.
The driver Colapinto replaced, Logan Sargeant, finished in the same position at the United States Grand Prix during the 2023 season. That was the only race where Sargeant was able to score points. It’s fair to say that Colapinto has been driving much better for Williams. He managed to score points in just his 2nd F1 race.
Is Colapinto the best option for Sauber?
With only two seats left on the grid and four races left of the season, Franco Colapinto is doing everything he can to prove himself. But is he doing enough? Several drivers have been linked to the Sauber seat who have both experience and ties to the team.
Both of the current Sauber drivers do not yet have seats for the 2025 season but their chances are looking slimmer and slimmer. After only two races, Colapinto had already overtaken both Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas in the World Drivers’ Championship standings.
⚠️ | Mattia Binotto confirmed to F1TV that Sauber are hoping to make their driver decision by mid-November.
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 20, 2024
Who do you think should get the final seat? 👇
#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/2712NZf0bD
Another driver that has been linked to the Sauber seat is Formula 2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian is the current leader of the F2 Driver Standings. Before Colapinto took over Sargeant’s seat, he was trailing behind him.
Although Colapinto has been delivering results for Williams, Sauber has several other young and talented drivers who are eager to make their debut next year.
Is Colapinto worth the risk when Sauber has two experienced drivers (Bottas/Guanyu), a Formula 2 champion (Mick Schumacher) and another potential F2 champion (Bortoleto) in the wings?
