Williams has introduced that Franco Colapinto will substitute Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season alongside Alex Albon.
Colapinto is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy and made his FP1 debut on the British Grand Prix. His F2 marketing campaign this 12 months has seen him safe a race win in Imola and podiums within the Barcelona and Austria Characteristic races, in addition to seven additional points-scoring outings.
The 21-year-old, who will sport quantity 43, will turn into the forty ninth Grand Prix driver for Williams Racing, and 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 workforce wish to take the chance to thank Logan Sargeant for his arduous work and contribution over the previous two seasons. He has competed in 36 Grands Prix and, on the US GP final 12 months, 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 are going to assist him to proceed his racing profession.
“It’s an honour to be making my Components 1 debut with Williams,” stated Colapinto, “that is what desires are product of. The workforce has such wonderful historical past and a mission to get again to the entrance which I am unable to wait to be a part of. Coming into F1 mid-season shall be an unlimited studying curve however I’m up for the problem, and I am absolutely centered on working as arduous as I can with Alex and the workforce to make it a hit.”
“To switch a driver mid-season shouldn’t be a call now we have taken flippantly,” added James Vowles, “however we imagine this provides Williams the very best probability to compete for factors over the rest of the season. We now have 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 wish to thank him for all his arduous work and constructive angle.
“Logan stays a gifted driver and we are going to assist him to proceed his racing profession for the longer term. I do know that Franco has nice velocity and large potential, and we sit up for seeing what he can do in Components 1.”
