Williams boss James Vowles reveals Franco Colapinto’s father had to sell his house to fulfill son’s racing dream
James Vowles reveals details about Franco Colapinto's family background and how he caught the Williams boss' attention.
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Franco Colapinto (Via: Williams Racing)
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Williams driver Logan Sargeant experienced a significant crash in FP3, which severely damaged his car. Team principal James Vowles noted that Sargeant’s performance had not been improving and the crash incurred substantial expenses for the team.
As a result, Williams decided to replace him with Formula 2 driver Franco Colapinto for the remainder of the season. Vowels highlighted the undisclosed challenges that Colapinto’s family endured to facilitate his racing ambitions.
In his first Formula 1 race, Colapinto finished 12th, and ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, showcasing an exceptional performance as a rookie. His drive improved in the next race, where he secured an eighth-place finish in Baku, outpacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
James Vowles noted that very few people recognized Colapinto’s name until the recent Azerbaijan GP and Singapore GP, where he matched Max Verstappen’s pace. He emphasized that the 21-year-old possesses a remarkable talent that distinguishes him. Despite being relatively unknown in the racing community until now, he is starting to gain recognition.
The whole world didn’t know his name I guarantee you, until about a month ago. Now he’s fairly known. He was very special , just wasn’t known to the world.
James Vowles said
Highlighting Colapinto’s background, Vowles said that his father made a significant sacrifice by selling their house to ensure the 21-year-old could compete at the 2019 Formula 4.
If I take you through what I mean by that. His father sold his house for him to go and do one championship which was the 2019 formula 4…Which was how I spotted him.
James Vowles added
James Vowles reveals opening doors in F1 for Franco Colapinto
James Vowles mentioned that Franco Colapinto drove for the team that struggled to perform in the Formula 4 championship. However, the 21-year-old’s passion, ambition, and exceptional driving skills set him apart in Vowles’ eyes.
Despite competing with a slower team, Colapinto’s impressive performances led him to victory, which greatly impressed the 45-year-old. This success provided the Argentine with opportunities to advance to Formula 3 and Formula 2.
He won in a team that was not at that right level, but he won. That then opened a door for him.
James Vowles expressed
Since his midseason entry into Formula 1 and after competing in three races, Franco Colapinto has accumulated four more points than Logan Sargeant. The American drove during the first half of the season and the race immediately following the summer break. Fans and pundits have since been highly impressed by Colapinto’s performances.
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Gaurang Kadam
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