In less than three months, Franco Colapinto has undergone an accelerated F1 crash course. His debut in Monza came with a huge boost, and after the Singapore GP, he was considered by Red Bull as a potential teammate for Max Verstappen.
At the same time, Franco Colapinto-mania exploded in Argentina, with his daily presence on both sports and mainstream media generating surprising interest from companies eager to support his F1 career. TV commercials, gossip columns, a meteoric rise in popularity.
Just when it seemed like the fairytale was headed for an ending even the most optimistic of his supporters couldn’t have predicted, a harsh return to reality came. In Mexico, Brazil, and Las Vegas, Franco Colapinto went from making headlines for his astonishing adaptation speed to being in the spotlight for violent accidents that were damaging both to himself and his team.
The latest, in Las Vegas, also compromised the back-to-back trips to Losail and Yas Marina, as Williams (struggling with spare parts) could only provide him with early-season front suspension components and some aerodynamic parts used before the last Singapore update. Result: last place in the sprint qualifying.
In the previous three races, his performance had also not matched his teammate Alexander Albon’s, and this point deserves reflection. It’s completely understandable that Colapinto needs time to adapt, but the problem for Franco is that, after the media whirlwind between September and October, any normal development path is now perceived as disappointing. It’s incredible how the hysteria of social media fame can even influence opinions within part of the F1 paddock.
On an unfamiliar track and with a car not assembled in an ideal way, it’s understandable that Franco Colapinto wasn’t in the race during yesterday’s sprint qualifying. His performance should be judged in this context, but who is taking the time to do that?
Without the euphoric momentum that turned him into a personality over the course of six weeks, Franco has fallen to the back of the grid in every sense. Now, even his future no longer seems so secure. Red Bull has not yet made its final decision about who will partner Verstappen next season, but in the event of Perez’s departure (which now seems likely), the name at the top of the list of candidates has returned to being Liam Lawson.
The Racing Bulls option is still open, but right now there’s little certainty. Helmut Marko is known for making quick decisions, and with the same speed with which he became interested in Colapinto after his first three F1 races, he could easily set aside the idea and, if a seat becomes available, promote Isack Hadjar. For Colapinto, due to his technical situation, it won’t be easy to get back in the spotlight in the last two races of the season, a difficult situation at a crucial moment for his young career. Things in F1 change very quickly…
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