Why RB need to pick Franco Colapinto over Isack Hadjar for F1 seat after F2 disaster

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Franco Colapinto burst onto the Formula 1 scene and proved just about everyone wrong that doubted his credentials for a drive in the sport.

Since then, he has lacked a bit of consistency and shown some rookie cracks that need to be worked on, particularly his knack for crashing his Williams car.

However, there’s enough outright speed and promise there, particularly that he has shown up against teammate Alex Albon, to warrant a seat on the grid.

He’s plenty young enough too at the age of 21, but for now, it looks as if he may be resigned to waiting for a seat until 2026.

Why Franco Colapinto deserves a Formula 1 seat over Isack Hadjar

After his initial flourish after the summer break, Red Bull showed some interest in acquiring Colapinto’s services for 2025.

Interest has since cooled, with a seven-figure fee for his services not helping the cause, but it may be time to turn back to him after this weekend.

Formula 2’s feature race championship finale was a disaster for 2025 Visa Cash App RB prospect Isack Hadjar, who was locked in a battle with Sauber star Gabriel Bortoleto for the title.

Their 5.5-point gap was irrelevant almost immediately after the Frenchman stalled off the line and left to spend the rest of his afternoon one lap down on the field.

READ MORE: What Isack Hadjar must do at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to land RB seat in 2025

Having held a commanding lead around the middle of the season, managing to not win the title does not reflect well upon Hadjar.

If anything, it represents an endorsement for Colapinto, who has taken to Formula 1 like a duck to water and is eager for a chance to flourish further.

When will RB make a decision on the final 2025 F1 race seat?

There’s a lot of running to go before Red Bull and VCARB get anywhere near making a decision on their 2025 driver pairings.

First of all, the big conundrum of who will partner Max Verstappen is yet to be solved – probably the toughest job in the sport.

Only then can the rest of the puzzle be figured out, with a choice to be made between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson for that drive.

READ MORE: Helmut Marko shares what is out of Red Bull’s hands when it comes to Sergio Perez’s potential F1 exit

Presumably one of those two will be at VCARB in 2025, meaning that it could be between Hadjar and Colapinto for the remaining seat on the grid.

How the Argentine performs at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could go a long way toward convincing the team of who to pick for 2025, and whether it’s worth taking a risk.