Williams has introduced that Franco Colapinto will substitute Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season alongside Alex Albon.
Colapinto is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy and made his FP1 debut on the British Grand Prix. His F2 marketing campaign this 12 months has seen him safe a race win in Imola and podiums within the Barcelona and Austria Characteristic races, in addition to seven additional points-scoring outings.
The 21-year-old, who will sport quantity 43, will develop into the forty ninth Grand Prix driver for Williams Racing, and is the primary Argentine driver in F1 for 23 years and the second Argentine to drive for the British outfit, following his countryman Carlos Reutemann.
The group wish to take the chance to thank Logan Sargeant for his laborious work and contribution over the previous two seasons. He has competed in 36 Grands Prix and, on the US GP final 12 months, turned the primary American driver to attain an F1 level since Michael Andretti 30 years prior. Logan will stay within the Williams household and we’ll help him to proceed his racing profession.
“It’s an honour to be making my Components 1 debut with Williams,” stated Colapinto, “that is what desires are made from. The group has such superb historical past and a mission to get again to the entrance which I can not wait to be a part of. Coming into F1 mid-season shall be an infinite studying curve however I’m up for the problem, and I am absolutely targeted on working as laborious as I can with Alex and the group to make it a hit.”
“To exchange a driver mid-season will not be a choice we now have taken calmly,” added James Vowles, “however we consider this provides Williams one of the best likelihood to compete for factors over the rest of the season. We’ve simply introduced a big improve to the automobile and have to maximise each points-scoring alternative in a remarkably tight midfield battle.
“We additionally consider in investing in our younger drivers within the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a improbable alternative to display what he’s able to throughout the ultimate 9 rounds of the season. That is undoubtedly extremely robust on Logan, who has given his all all through his time with Williams, and we wish to thank him for all his laborious work and optimistic angle.
“Logan stays a proficient driver and we’ll help him to proceed his racing profession for the longer term. I do know that Franco has nice velocity and large potential, and we sit up for seeing what he can do in Components 1.”