How much money Franco Colapinto’s sponsors are bringing to Williams after replacing Sargeant

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The Italian Grand Prix has provided Argentinian youngster Franco Colapinto with an unexpected promotion to Formula 1.

Williams team principal James Vowles decided enough was enough and was forced to replace Logan Sargeant after another disappointing outing at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Sargeant’s car was fitted with Williams’s first major update of the season but he had a huge shunt that caused him to miss qualifying and cost the team more time and money making the necessary repairs.

The American still managed to start ahead of teammate Alex Albon but finished the race behind him and that was the final straw for Vowles.

Several names were linked with the Williams seat including Liam Lawson and Mick Schumacher.

However, Williams opted for Franco Colapinto as they promoted their strongest academy driver into Formula 1.

A report from F1 Insider has shared more information about the deal that has seen the 21-year-old make that step up onto the grid.

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

Vowles has already spoken about the interest from sponsors in Colapinto and how that’s positively impacted the team.

While that’s not the most important thing for a team, given how much Sargeant and Albon’s crashes have cost the team this season, it’s an added bonus that Colapinto is raising some much-needed cash for Williams.

How much sponsorship money Franco Colapinto is bringing to Williams

Colapinto is Argentina’s first Formula 1 driver since 2001 when Gaston Mazzacane was briefly on the grid.

It’s a country with an exceptional racing heritage, previously hosting a Grand Prix and producing exceptional talents such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Carlos Reutemann.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship`

While a race in Buenos Aires is unlikely to be on the cards, interest from Colapinto’s home country has suddenly increased after it was confirmed that he would be on the grid for the final nine races of the season.

The report from F1 Insider suggests that Colapinto’s sponsors are bringing in £420,000 per race.

That equates to nearly £3.8m across the rest of the season which F1 Insider suggests was a ‘powerful argument’ for the team opting for Colapinto over Schumacher.

It must be said that Vowles has denied Colapinto’s hiring was to do with how much money he brought to the team.

Speaking in the Monza paddock, via Autosport, he said:

“What I want to make very clear is that no sponsor was involved in his signing.

“We actually recruited him without knowing anything about the future. What happened next is that many Argentinian companies contacted us. That’s not over yet, as the phone is still ringing.

“However, they are simply paying the market price. So, it has little to do with Franco Colapinto; when we chose him, there was no financing involved.”

Franco Colapinto told how close he needs to be to Alex Albon after Monza

It’s been a steady start to life in Formula 1 for Colapinto after being given just a few days’ notice that he would be making the step up from F2 this weekend.

His times in practice were decent although he had several trips into the gravel during practice and qualifying.

Colapinto’s final run in Q1 was ruined by running wide out of the second Lesmo and he’ll start Sunday’s race in P18.

Albon showed the full potential of the car by being the best of the rest and will start nine places ahead of the young Argentinian.

Martin Brundle has told Colapinto how close he needs to be to Albon at the end of this weekend which is going to be tough considering where he’s started.

The expectation will be that the 21-year-old can challenge for points sooner rather than later but the next two races in Baku and Singapore won’t make that easy.