Guenther Steiner thinks ‘remarkable’ Franco Colapinto has left Williams asking important question

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Franco Colapinto has taken to Formula 1 rather effortlessly since he joined the grid back at Monza.

The 21-year-old has become the first Argentinian to race in F1 since Gaston Mazzacane in 2001, as he was drafted in to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the season.

Sargeant joined the Grove-based team in 2023 and struggled badly against his teammate Alex Albon, scoring just one point at his home race in Austin after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified.

Despite the lacklustre results, Sargeant was retained for 2024, but things got even worse for the American. Several accidents and poor performances plagued the 23-year-old, with a crash at Zandvoort proving to be the final straw.

James Vowles opted to part ways with Sargeant after the Dutch Grand Prix and brought in Colapinto for the remaining nine races. With him eyeing a potential move to IndyCar, Sargeant can hit reset after the ‘misery’ he suffered in Formula 1.

Guenther Steiner reckons James Vowles will regret not putting Franco Colapinto in the Williams sooner

With Colapinto’s performances in F1 thus far, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner spoke on Champ1’s YouTube channel about how Vowles may regret not making a decision on the Argentine sooner.

On his F1 debut, Colapinto finished 12th after starting 18th in an impressive display. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 21-year-old kept pace with his teammate Albon and scored his first points in F1 with eighth, aided by Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez’s crash at the closing stages of the race.

Last time out at the Singapore Grand Prix, Colapinto made an ambitious lunge into turn one and moved up to ninth, but ultimately finished just outside the points in 11th and a lap down, recording a better fastest lap than Sergio Perez in 10th.

With these performances in what is just his first three races in F1, Steiner reckons Vowles will be wondering why he did not pull the trigger and axe Sargeant than he did.

“I was very surprised positively, did a great job I have to say,” said Steiner about Colapinto.

“I think James Vowles is asking himself now, why didn’t I put him in earlier, then I would not have had to pay all that money.

“I always see Alex Albon as the prodigy who never had a real chance of having a good car or being at Red Bull, and I think Alex is good. I think I’m also someone who is an Alex Albon supporter.

“But what Colapinto is doing is quite remarkable I have to say. I never, never, never expected it. But that’s Formula 1. That’s a good thing and I it’s cool.”

Franco Colapinto is in talks with Audi over a potential move

Unsurprisingly, Colapinto’s performances has caught the attention of other teams in the paddock, with Lawrence Barretto reckoning Helmut Marko won’t want to miss out on signing him for Red Bull.

The Argentine has been linked with the vacant Sauber seat for 2025. Vowles has confirmed talks with Audi for Colapinto, as he looks to get him a two-year deal with the team and remain a part of the Williams Academy.

Colapinto is not the only driver in contention for the Sauber drive, as Valtteri Bottas is considered a favourite to keep his seat. But as he and Zhou Guanyu have failed to score points this season, Tim Coronel wants to see Bottas make room for a young driver in 2025.

Gabriel Bortoleto is also a strong candidate as the Brazilian leads the F2 championship with two rounds to go. Mattia Binotto has been seen in conversation with Bortoleto at previous rounds as he looks a more likely option for Sauber next season.