Williams Racing publicizes that Franco Colapinto will race with the crew for the rest of the 2024 FIA Method 1 World Championship season and can compete from the Italian Grand Prix alongside Alex Albon. He’ll use the race quantity #43.
Franco is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy and made his FP1 debut on this yr’s FW46 on the British Grand Prix. His F2 marketing campaign this yr has seen him safe a race win in Imola and podiums within the Barcelona and Austria Function races, in addition to seven additional points-scoring outings.
The 21-year-old will turn out to be the forty ninth Grand Prix driver for Williams Racing*, is the primary Argentine driver in F1 for 23 years and the second Argentine to drive for the British outfit, following his countryman Carlos Reutemann.
The crew wish to take the chance to thank Logan Sargeant for his onerous work and contribution over the previous two seasons. He has competed in 36 Grands Prix and, on the US GP final yr, grew to become the primary American driver to attain an F1 level since Michael Andretti 30 years prior. Logan will stay within the Williams household and we’ll assist him to proceed his racing profession.
“It’s an honour to be making my Method 1 debut with Williams – that is what desires are fabricated from.
“The crew has such superb historical past and a mission to get again to the entrance which I can’t wait to be a part of.
“Coming into F1 mid-season can be an unlimited studying curve however I’m up for the problem, and I’m absolutely centered on working as onerous as I can with Alex and the crew to make it a hit.”
James Vowles, Crew Principal:
“To exchange a driver mid-season will not be a choice we’ve taken frivolously, however we imagine this offers Williams the perfect probability to compete for factors over the rest of the season.
“We’ve got simply introduced a big improve to the automobile and must maximise each points-scoring alternative in a remarkably tight midfield battle.
“We additionally imagine in investing in our younger drivers within the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a implausible alternative to exhibit what he’s able to throughout the ultimate 9 rounds of the season.
“That is undoubtedly extremely powerful on Logan, who has given his all all through his time with Williams, and we need to thank him for all his onerous work and constructive perspective.
“Logan stays a proficient driver and we’ll assist him to proceed his racing profession for the longer term. I do know that Franco has nice velocity and large potential, and we look ahead to seeing what he can do in Method 1.”
*based mostly on factors -scoring F1 race opponents because the formation of Williams in 1977 as an F1 Constructor.