A prominent Argentinean journalist has claimed Franco
Colapinto to Red Bull is a done deal for F1 2025.
The Argentinian driver is at the heart of late silly season
speculation, with the Williams driver proving highly impressive as a rookie
since replacing Logan Sargeant after the summer break.
‘Franco Colapinto to join Red Bull’ claim made
With a vacant seat at the VCARB squad for F1 2025,
speculation has run rampant over who might slot into the seat alongside Yuki
Tsunoda next season. Added to that speculation is the uncertainty over what’s
happening with Sergio Perez, as Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has said a
decision on the main team’s line-up will be made after this season.
Perez has struggled for form and consistency throughout F1
2024, with his points score costing Red Bull a strong challenge for this year’s
Constructors’ Championship, and the possibility of Perez being replaced has not
been firmly denied by senior Red Bull figures.
While Perez has put the message out that his two-year
contract extension with Red Bull, signed earlier this year, is watertight, team
boss Christian Horner has spoken at length about how F1 is a results-based
business – his comments following Perez’s home race in Mexico notably failing
to reassure Perez of his future with the team.
With both Horner and Marko making it clear that Colapinto is
of interest to Red Bull as an organisation, PlanetF1.com understands Horner met
with Williams team boss James Vowles on Friday to discuss securing the services
of the Argentinean for the future.
The Red Bull boss was spotted in the Williams motorhome on Friday,
with Vowles later quipping that Horner had been there to sample the coffee of a
new Williams partner.
Later on Friday, Argentine journalist Ruben Daray posted on
the A Todo Motor social media channel to claim Colapinto has already been
signed by Red Bull.
“More than a month ago, ‘A Todo Motor’ gave you the absolute
scoop that Colapinto was going to be in Formula 1 until the end of the year,”
Daray said.
“Well, today is Friday, [and] I’m letting you know that, at
this moment, Colapinto is already Red Bull’s number two driver for 2025.
“[An] exclusive scoop of ‘A Todo Motor’! I am really happy
that an Argentinean, Franco Colapinto, is in a team as
important as Red Bull”.
Further speculation was fuelled via teasing posts on X by
Red Bull Argentina and ByBit Argentina (a Red Bull Racing sponsor).
PlanetF1.com understands that, while negotiations to land
Colapinto are underway, a Red Bull deal is nowhere close to completion and,
even with all the pieces falling into place, sources have indicated a
successful deal being made could take weeks to agree.
The understanding is that Red Bull is not the only
interested party in Colapinto’s services and that the other interested party is
not Sauber – the only other team on the grid with a vacant seat for F1 2025 –
thus suggesting something of a tug-of-war is currently underway to secure
Colapinto.
The Argentian, the first driver from his country since the
lacklustre Gaston Mazzacane over 20 years ago, has scored two points finishes
from his five race weekends so far, scoring five points to teammate Alex
Albon’s 12. More pertinently, Colapinto has proven himself a close match for
Albon and has even outperformed the more experienced British-Thai racer despite
his lack of preparation and seat time in the Williams.
With Albon being a known quantity for Red Bull, due to his
background as a Red Bull driver (for both teams) and reserve, this sheds
further insight into Colapinto’s strengths to the squad, and the perception of
his quality.
While Colapinto is of interest to Red Bull, sources have indicated it’s not yet clear whether the intention is to secure the Argentinian for a seat with VCARB or Red Bull Racing – further muddying the waters as the season winds down.
.webp)
