When the chequered flag flew at the United States Grand Prix, the members of the crowd waving Argentinian flags were absolutely ecstatic.
When Gaston Mazzacane retired from the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix, F1 fans from Argentina didn’t expect to have to wait 23 years for Franco Colapinto to emerge from the Williams junior program.
Logan Sargeant had been underperforming for some time and when team principal James Vowles decided that the team needed a change, few would have predicted that Colapinto would have been the driver to get the nod.
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The 21-year-old has proven everyone wrong, scoring points at this second race in Baku and adding another top-ten finish to his CV at the United States Grand Prix.
After starting on the eighth row, the Argentinian nailed a one-stop strategy to finish tenth and Colapinto even received an apology from Esteban Ocon after having the fastest lap stolen from him in the closing stages.
Despite all of this, Colapinto doesn’t currently have a race seat for the 2025 F1 season.

Journalist Jose Manuel Zapico has shared more details about what could come next for the 21-year-old.
While he’s unsure exactly where Colapinto could end up, he’s explained the steps that need to be taken for him to reach the grid.
He also believes that if everything goes to plan, Colapinto’s next move could make fans ‘angry’.
Franco Colapinto’s proposed next move in Formula 1
Speaking on social media about the Argentinian sensation, Zapico said: “There is a chance that Franco Colapinto can stay in F1 next year, but a couple of things have to happen.
“Two-way movement, one leaving and one moving. And sponsors who will have a say.”
When someone replied saying that fans deserve Colapinto in F1, Zapico continued: “It is possible. It happens that in the real world, things are not achieved because they are deserved, but because they are achieved.
“Several pieces have to fit together and in this equation, some people are going to get angry.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats
Two options remain for Franco Colapinto to race in F1 in 2025
If Zapico is correct and there is a chance that Colapinto is on the grid next year, then there are only two seats he could end up in.
The most straightforward move would be to Sauber where they still have a vacant seat for next year.
Colapinto has been in the conversation to race for Sauber but they’re also assessing the likes of Valtteri Bottas, Gabriel Bortoleto and Mick Schumacher.
The other option for the 21-year-old is to join the Red Bull group, with Liam Lawson yet to sign a deal for 2025 and Sergio Perez under pressure.
The way Zapico describes Colapinto’s potential F1 opportunity sounds much more like a move to RB could be on the cards.
It would involve Lawson – or teammate Yuki Tsunoda – being promoted to Red Bull, Colapinto taking their place and Perez dropping off the grid.
Perez’s prospects of staying in Formula 1 look shaky at best after another tough weekend in Austin.
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