Helmut Marko shares the moment he knew Williams star Franco Colapinto was going to be ‘extraordinary’

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Williams Racing driver Franco Colapinto has reinvigorated a fanbase that’s been overlooked by Formula 1 over the past two seasons.

Argentina had to wait 23 years for Franco Colapinto to arrive on the grid after witnessing Gaston Mazzacane and Esteban Tuero race for Prost and Minardi at the beginning of the century.

Even in neighbouring Brazil where a fierce rivalry between the two countries exists in other sports, support is growing for the 21-year-old.

So much so that Colapinto has been warned he might need security at Interlagos this season given how many fans will be there to see him.

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

Unfortunately for the youngster, his strong start to life at Williams might be in vain.

Team principal James Vowles has already filled both of the team’s seats for 2025 with Alex Albon continuing for another campaign, while he’ll be joined by Carlos Sainz.

It’s an exciting line-up and while Vowles has put Colapinto’s name forward to race for Sauber next year, he doesn’t appear to be their first choice.

Helmut Marko is notorious for spotting some of the most exciting talent in motorsport.

Marko spent the summer break this year on the lookout for the best karters to add to Red Bull’s junior program and speaking to Motorsport Magazin’s YouTube channel, has shared the moment he noticed Colapinto.

Colapinto has had a varied racing career up to his point, taking part in the European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship and Intercontinental GT Challenge alongside progressing through the traditional formula format.

His results in F4 and FRECA were decent but not on the same level as someone like Kimi Antonelli.

However, Marko admitted that Colapinto first came to his attention during his time in Formula 3.

Helmut Marko noticed ‘extraordinary’ Franco Colapinto during Formula 3 stint

Colapinto spent two seasons in F3, winning four races and coming fourth in his second full season before being promoted into MP Motorsport’s Formula 2 team this year.

Marko is well known for constantly being on the lookout for new talent and asked about his previous scouting missions explained: “I noticed Colapinto in two Formula 3 races before.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know

“There weren’t any more things [to notice] but he delivered extraordinary performances.

“The rest of his Formula 3 season wasn’t extraordinary in any way.

“Formula 2 wasn’t anything either, but that shows all of these [data] models that our people go through – simulators and this and that – become psychological and whatnot.

“There are our own systems for how the junior formulas are evaluated and how the metrics and the physical condition, but you have to put these boys in the car and then you’ll see what they can do.”

Helmut Marko’s comment a big blow to 2025 Sauber hopeful

During Colapinto’s two seasons in Formula 3, he raced against some of the strongest young drivers around.

In his maiden F3 season, Victor Martins won the championship, although the Alpine youngster hasn’t kicked on as expected this year.

Zane Maloney, Arthur Leclerc and Roman Stanek were also among the field, although Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar and 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman stand out as names in the championship.

Marko is likely talking about Colapinto’s performances last season and to say that nobody else stood out in 2023 could be a blow to McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto.

The Brazilian won the championship and is currently leading the field during his maiden Formula 2 campaign.

Bortoleto has held talks with Sauber about their 2025 seat, but if it were up to the Red Bull supremo he would opt for the Argentinian instead.

Colapinto is the sort of driver Marko would love to hire, and if the RB driver line-up continues to cause Red Bull headaches, they could do a lot worse than try and hire the 21-year-old.