Franco Colapinto was not the F1 rookie proving they’re the ‘real deal’ in Brazil for Eddie Jordan

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Formula 1 will see four rookie drivers race in 2025 and a fifth may follow, but the one proving that they are the ‘real deal’ in Brazil was not Williams racer Franco Colapinto.

The pinnacle of motorsport got an early glimpse of its future at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last week. Three rookie drivers raced at Interlagos with Colapinto continuing his debut season at Williams, Oliver Bearman replacing Kevin Magnussen at Haas and Liam Lawson racing an RB.

Bearman stepped in at very late notice for Haas in Brazil after Magnussen fell unwell, getting extra seat time ahead of taking over the drive full-time next year. Andrea Kimi Antonelli with Mercedes, Jack Doohan at Alpine and Gabriel Bortoleto with Sauber will even debut in 2025.

Lawson and Colapinto hope they too will feature on the Formula 1 grid in 2025 but they may also be in direct competition for the final vacant seat at Visa Cash App RB. Williams welcome Ferrari exile Carlos Sainz to partner Alex Albon next term, likely leaving Colapinto in the cold.

Liam Lawson showed Eddie Jordan he’s ‘the real deal’ over Franco Colapinto in Brazil

Christian Horner has confirmed Red Bull are monitoring Colapinto’s situation at Williams and may try to sign the Argentine. Visa Cash App RB may have an opening for the 21-year-old in 2025 if Lawson replaces Sergio Perez at Red Bull with the Mexican again struggling for form.

Red Bull have even offered Williams £15.5m to release Colapinto from his academy contract, with the potential of him also replacing Perez. But after seeing the Pilar, Buenos Aires native struggle at the Sao Paulo GP, Eddie Jordan feels Lawson not Colapinto should replace Perez.

READ MORE: F1 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid

Lawson scored the 22-year-old’s second P9 finish through his three appearances for RB this season in Brazil. Meanwhile, Colapinto cost Williams a fortune in repairs through crashing in qualifying and the race in tricky wet conditions in which Lawson showed he is the ‘real deal’.

“Colapinto, I thought there were a couple of outstanding moves. He’s probably not going to get a drive and we’re going to miss him,” Jordan told Formula For Success. “But the person who stood out for me, and I have to be honest, Lawson is the real deal here.

“He drove [with] a lot of pressure and he knows how to handle himself. He has not got the car that Lewis [Hamilton] had. He has not got the car that other people had. But he displayed a level of competence that I was super impressed with. He’s ready to fly in 2025.

“Perez, how many chances has he had? Do you think he’ll have a drive next year? Not a chance. Lovely guy but we know lovely guys don’t win you Grand Prix, whereas Lawson is the deal. He’s part of the family there, and he is the person who should be in that car.”

Liam Lawson shone in Sao Paulo while Franco Colapinto’s crashes cost Williams a fortune

Colapinto has been a superb addition to the Formula 1 field since recording his debut at the Italian Grand Prix after Williams dropped Logan Sargeant. The Argentine won just one Sprint Race as a rookie in Formula 2 this term but has two top-10 F1 Grand Prix results at Williams.

The Sao Paulo GP was not a happy time for Colapinto, though, after destroying his car in Q1 and again whilst behind the safety car in the race. He struggled to cope with the conditions, whereas Lawson qualified in P5 for RB before holding back Hamilton to finish the race in P9.

Hamilton took the chequered flag just 0.301 seconds behind Lawson while fighting over the final points-paying positions in the Sao Paulo GP. The New Zealander also made life hard for Oscar Piastri, who drew a penalty for spinning Lawson in their fight over P7 on Lap 26 of 69.