Franco Colapinto told ‘sensible’ choice as Red Bull move ‘could destroy’ Williams driver

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has confirmed his Formula 1 outfit are exploring signing Williams prospect Franco Colapinto but Karun Chandhok fears it is ‘too soon’.

The Argentine has been a superb addition to the pinnacle of motorsport since Colapinto got a surprise Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix. Williams did not plan to provide the 20-year-old a seat on the grid for seasons to come but turned to him to replace Logan Sargeant.

Colapinto was supposed to spend his season in Formula 2 and likely stay in the feeder series next term, too. Williams have signed Ferrari exile Carlos Sainz on a multi-year contract to be the teammate of Alex Albon from 2025. So, Colapinto faces being left without any seat in F1.

Being Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate ‘could destroy’ Williams gem Franco Colapinto

Audi signing Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg in a new-look Sauber line-up from 2025 leaves Visa Cash App RB with the sole empty seat on the 2025 Formula 1 grid. Red Bull hold the keys to the seat currently held by Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda already locked in.

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

Red Bull are taking their time to finalise RB’s line-up with Lawson a possible replacement for Perez in their main team, with the Mexican continually failing to perform. But Red Bull have also reportedly offered Williams £15.5m to release Colapinto from his contract for the team.

Team principal Horner also confirmed at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil that Red Bull are interested in Colapinto as the Williams Academy prospect is ‘definitely’ a star in the making. But Chandhok fears it ‘could destroy’ Colapinto if he joins Max Verstappen at Red Bull now.

“I think it got fuelled a bit more when Christian Horner wandered down to Williams to have a chat,” Chandhok told the Sky Sports F1 Podcast. He added: “Clearly, there’s conversations going on. My personal view is, he’s clearly very quick [and] very talented.

“I think we’ll all admit including Williams that it’s been a bit of a surprise because his junior formula record didn’t suggest he’s going to be as good as he has been. Maybe he’s just well suited to an F1 car or the style of driving. But it would be a mistake to put him in a Red Bull.

“I think it would be too early. If they were talking about putting him in an RB, that would be a good, sensible choice and career progression for him. I think if they put him in a Red Bull alongside Max, it could destroy him. It would be too soon.”

Franco Colapinto still has a lot to learn despite his impressive start in Formula 1

Racing for Red Bull alongside Verstappen has almost been a Formula 1 career killer for every driver since Daniel Ricciardo beat the Dutchman in the 2017 standings. Pierre Gasly only got 12 races at Red Bull before Albon, who would last 26 rounds, replaced the Frenchman there.

Perez took over Albon’s drive after the 2020 season and has rarely been anything more than Verstappen’s No2 since. Now, Red Bull are considering axing Perez potentially as soon as the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix next time out. But Chandhok does not want to see Colapinto join.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Gasly, Albon and Perez never proved able to reach close to the same levels as Verstappen at Red Bull as their car demands a different driving style than the trio could produce. Colapinto may face the same plight if he were to join from Williams, despite his impressive start in F1.

Across the 21-year-old’s first six Grands Prix, Colapinto scored points with P8 on his second outing in Azerbaijan and scored again with P10 in the United States GP. But Colapinto’s crash in qualifying for the Sao Paulo GP cost Williams a fortune and he also failed to start the race.