F1 Transfer Speculations: Franco Colapinto’s Future Remains Uncertain

Yuki Tsunoda has recently commented on the future prospects of Franco Colapinto, currently serving as an interim driver for Williams. Tsunoda stated that it would be surprising if Red Bull Racing‘s junior team, VCARB, did not consider Colapinto for a future seat. Colapinto is temporarily filling in for Logan Sargeant, with Carlos Sainz expected to join in the 2025 season. Despite impressive performances since his Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix, including catching the attention of Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner, Colapinto does not yet have a confirmed full-time F1 seat for next year.

Colapinto was previously linked with a potential seat at Sauber for 2025, alongside Nico Hulkenberg, but these negotiations did not materialize as the team opted to sign F2 leader Gabriel Bortoleto instead. Speculation has been rife that Red Bull might bring in Colapinto to replace Sergio Perez in 2025, contingent upon reaching an agreement with Williams for his loan. Recently, Horner’s visit to the Williams motorhome at Interlagos fueled further speculation about discussions regarding Colapinto potentially driving for Red Bull.

As part of Red Bull’s talent pool, both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are being considered for potential promotion. Lawson could be competing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, freeing up a potential spot for Colapinto at VCARB.

When asked about the likelihood of Colapinto joining Red Bull or VCARB, Tsunoda remarked, «He’s definitely doing a good job. If it’s not an option, I’ll be surprised. He’s doing well and he doesn’t have a seat so far for next season.»

Current world champion Max Verstappen also weighed in on Colapinto’s chances of driving for Red Bull, noting the difficulties young talents face in securing a spot on the F1 grid. «It’s complicated to answer because he’s still contracted to Williams,» Verstappen stated. «For me personally, it just shows that teams in general just need to be more open to putting young talents in and trusting them.» He added that Colapinto deserves a seat in F1, but acknowledged that finding a spot is challenging at present.

Williams sees Colapinto as a valuable asset for the future but cannot offer him a seat in the immediacy of the next season. Meanwhile, Red Bull and Alpine are rumored to be vying for Colapinto’s signature. Williams has indicated that securing Colapinto a spot on the 2025 grid is a priority, though the specifics of any potential deal remain unclear. James Vowles from Williams has stressed the importance of getting Colapinto a full-time place as an act of courtesy to the Argentine driver, not a contractual requirement.

Red Bull appears interested in bringing Colapinto on board as part of a full-time deal, with their second team, VCARB, enhancing their negotiating position. Alpine’s interest is primarily positioned for opportunities in 2026, potentially making their offer less attractive in the short term compared to Red Bull’s. More developments regarding Colapinto’s future are expected before the season’s conclusion if he continues to deliver strong performances.