Franco Colapinto told it’s ‘too soon’ for him to take rumoured next step after Williams in F1

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Williams Racing driver Franco Colapinto has experienced an accelerated start to his Formula 1 career.

Most rookies are given several months of warning before a winter of preparations before making their F1 debuts, but Franco Colapinto didn’t have that luxury.

Williams were in a precarious position going into the summer break knowing they needed points to climb up the Constructors’ Championship.

However, team principal James Vowles had overseen a range of updates that he expected would make his outfit much more competitive.

Williams had already had to deal with millions of pounds worth of crash damage throughout the campaign, limiting their progress, and when Logan Sargeant had a huge shunt at Zandvoort, that was the end of the American’s F1 journey.

Colapinto wasn’t the first name on many people’s lists when it came to replacing Sargeant, but he hit the ground running at Monza and has impressed ever since.

Unfortunately for Colapinto, he doesn’t have a race seat at Williams for next year with Carlos Sainz set to join Alex Albon in 2025.

Alex Jacques was speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast and spoke about the Argentinian’s future.

He suggested that while Colapinto has been linked with Red Bull, it wouldn’t be the best next step for the 21-year-old.

Franco Colapinto told that it’s ‘too soon’ for him to join Red Bull next season

Talking about the hype around Colapinto, Jacques said: “Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind.

“I completely agree that the reset is going to be really important for him. Get a bit of downtime, clear your head and look at your options.

“The fact he’s got options in Formula 1 is the testament to what he’s done. Today was a really really difficult task for him.

“Formula 1 in the wet, Sao Paulo, as you said it was always going to be tricky. Not his finest moment in his career, but he’s got a chance. I think Red Bull would be too soon. I wouldn’t do that to him, don’t rush a driver into that seat.

“No one fancies that [driving alongside Max Verstappen], realistically that seat has been taking great drivers, making them look ordinary and then they recover their career and they look great again. Who’s on the podium? Pierre Gasly, showing exactly that.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

“I think it would be a good option keeping him on the grid, I love the support he is getting.

“Whether he finishes in the points, they’re outside the pit wall cheering for him after the race.

“Whether he’s finished in the barrier, they’re outside the pit wall cheering for him after the race.”

Christian Horner interested in Franco Colapinto but rules out move for another driver

Red Bull face a difficult issue with Sergio Perez underperforming to such an extent that the team have all but given up hope that they can win the Constructors’ Championship.

Colapinto would be a fresh face at Red Bull, but the expectation placed on him alongside Max Verstappen would put him under huge pressure.

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Christian Horner has talked up Colapinto recently and there are few people in the paddock who haven’t been impressed with how quickly he’s adapted to Formula 1.

That will leave him in good stead in the future even if he doesn’t secure a seat for 2025.

However, Horner has ruled out signing Carlos Sainz which would have opened up a place on the grid for Colapinto at Williams without having to make a move elsewhere in the paddock.