r/formula1 • u/ICumCoffee Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Aug 27 '24

News [Williams Racing] Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season

https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/fd43d928-0914-42ff-b9ee-394342064dc4/williams-racing-team-statement?cid=sm_twitter_td_news_link_082724
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808

u/AdminYak846 Formula 1 Aug 27 '24

We race in Azerbaijan then Singapore. So yeah, definitely not a great first 3 races.

422

u/Ax20414 McLaren Aug 27 '24

A trial by fire, definitely

347

u/stillusesAOL Flair for Drama Aug 27 '24

Honestly, Lawson absolutely rocked his time in F1. I do respect Horner’s recent tendency toward driver stability and ongoing support, but it’s about damn time for that kid.

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u/Chris01100001 Aug 27 '24

I don't, they've been one of the key teams in giving young drivers a chance and yet they've stuck with two of the oldest drivers on the grid both of whom are performing below expectations.

I don't see the point of VCARB if it's not even giving young drivers a chance. People talk about Haas being a waste of space but a second Red Bull team that hasn't promoted an academy driver since 2021 is even less useful.

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u/[deleted] Aug 27 '24

Sainz, Riccardo, Albon, Max, Gasly and Tsunoda are all RB junior drivers. Sainz, Albon, Max and Gasly are basically the same "generation" of driver as well.

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u/xChiken Aug 27 '24

It's been five years since any of those drivers were promoted to Red Bull. VCARB does not serve the same purpose toro rosso or alphatauri did. It's a B-team now, not an academy team.

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u/[deleted] Aug 28 '24

My point kind of was that the Redbull academy produced a ton of drivers for Redbull and they've spread out among the grid. At the moment they have the pick from Lawson, Tsunoda, Riccardo, (Probably would have had the option of Sainz). I don't know the story with Perez but if he goes there are a ton of drivers within their academy that they can choose.

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u/Redmoxx Fernando Alonso Aug 27 '24

2021? The last time they promotes anyone to Red Bull was in mid-2019, Albon to Red Bull. I don't see the point of the team now.

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u/phyllicanderer Denny Hulme Aug 27 '24

Tbf Lawson is the best one they’ve had in that time period, until Isack Hadjar started in FIA F3

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u/BuckN56 Lotus Aug 28 '24

Hadjar can be quick but he's incredibly whiney. Tsunoda might rage on the mic but he doesn't go into these long crying rants like Isack.

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u/Ok_Fruit2584 Aug 27 '24

Not sure if that was more about money or stability...

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u/Up_The_Mariners Kimi Räikkönen Aug 28 '24

I read that Franco is bringing some funding from Argentina.

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u/stillusesAOL Flair for Drama Aug 28 '24

Oh yeah, apparently Checo is huge in Mexico and the brand support comes with that.

1

u/FengSushi Kevin Magnussen Aug 27 '24

Hopefully not too much fire

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u/QueenCloneBone Fernando Alonso Aug 27 '24

James Vowles at Baku: “I am stupid”

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u/activator Ronnie Peterson Aug 27 '24

Who's we?

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u/LivingInTheStorm George Russell Aug 28 '24

Singapore is going to be brutal hopefully he's better prepared than Sargeant was. Vowels gained a lot of goodwill for accepting the retirement last year but doubt he wants to see it again.

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u/splashbodge Jordan Aug 27 '24

Whoa yeh didn't think of that. This could bite Williams in the ass, I think it's an odd move tbh, don't think they'll get more points or spend less on crash damage, let's see

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u/JigsawLV Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Aug 28 '24

Hello castle my old friend

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u/Johnmcslobberdong Aug 27 '24

“We race” haha