Franco Colapinto continues to make history in Formula 1with brilliant performances that allowed him to receive the best praise in an environment that is not usually very generous with words. However, its continuity in the top category for the 2025 season remains an unknown, and a reason for debate in the run-up to the Mexican GP. Now, with Sergio Checo Péreznothing less than local credit, as an unexpected protagonist.
Williams Racing I already had insured Alex Albon and the arrival of Carlos Sainz since before Franco got on the board for the first time FW46 with which he shone in Monza, Azerbaijan, Singapore and Austin, the first four events of the nine that the British team entrusted to him, without imagining such a performance. Therefore, the future of the 21-year-old Argentine pilot could be in Kick Cleana team that is in the transition phase towards Audi for 2026 and did not resolve who will accompany Nico Hulkenbergthe only one confirmed.
For now, Valtteri Bottas, Gabriel Bortoleto y Mick Schumacher would be the three names competing with Franco, waiting for the official announcement that will be made closer to the Las Vegas GPat the end of November. Of them, the one who is experiencing the situation with the greatest uncertainty is the Finn who at this time is part of a team that did not guarantee his place for next season.
Franco Colapinto fans can add one more option to maintain the illusion of seeing him among the 20 drivers who will begin the 2025 season, and all thanks to a carom that includes Czech Perez and another talented young man like Liam Lawsonthe 22-year-old New Zealand driver who finished ninth in Austin, one place ahead of the Pilar native.
Formula 1 is synonymous with strategy, danger, speed, money and pressure, but above all things it is based on a single word: competence. Drivers are measured by what they achieve with their car and there is no respect for the past but instead analysis and criticism (almost always ruthless) is based on the present. And the good old Checo could give a “masterclass” about it.
The one born in Guadalajara is 34 years old and at Red Bull it seems that they do not remember the fundamental role he had in the last race of 2021, in the Abu Dhabi GP which had the most dramatic definition in the history of Formula 1, when he defended a position like a lion against Lewis Hamilton and in this way allowed the miraculous consecration of Max Verstappenin the first of its three titles. It didn’t surprise anyone: that year he had done the same in Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
“If Checo hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been champion,” acknowledged Max, who then had two seasons of overwhelming dominance, overshadowing the rest of the drivers with a hegemony that lasted until the middle of this year, and leaving aside the consideration to Pérez himself, whose record includes 277 races, 39 podiums and 6 wins.
At Red Bull they always showed a greater preference for the three-time champion, as expected, both in strategies and in the set-up of the cars but also in statements. The harshest when talking about the Mexican was Helmut Markoan 80-year-old former driver who became a key advisor in the Austrian team but who has been so aggressive in his expressions that he was accused of being racist in the environment. Last year he even said that Pérez was not as “focused” as Max because he was “South American.” Then he apologized. Now he is the one who will define if they give him a new opportunity for next year or will point to a replacement.
“In Abu Dhabi, not before,” Marko warned in Austin, postponing his decision until December 8, when the last one of the year will be run. In Mexico they are aware of this “destitution” that Checo is experiencing and in the days before the action at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, they asked him about his future, taking into account that He recently renewed his contract until the end of 2028.
“I’m not going anywhere, I have a contract, I know what’s there and there is no doubt that I will be here next year, I understand the rumors, but don’t let them mess with my people, let them leave us alone,” he bellowed. at an event in front of his audience. However, these five races can be transcendental.
In case the Austrians end up relegating the option of Checo, who would remain as a reserve driver, the name that is imposed to accompany Verstappen is that of Liam Lawsonanother of the young talents that is giving something to talk about in F1. Since 2019, the New Zealander has been Red Bull’s reserve driver and it is assumed that, after replacing Daniel Ricciardo in Austin, in 2025 he will continue aboard one of the two RB Formule One Team, the Italian team known until last year as Alpha Tauri, and which carries the financial sponsorship of the energy drink brand. The other is Japanese Yuki Tsunoda.
That is where the “Collapinto alternative” appears, as the British journalist presented it in his personal blog. Joe Sawardrecognized for following the Formula 1 around the world and write long chronicles about his travels, in this case while linking the United States GP with the Mexican GPwith a lot of color and some information from the pits.
“Perez fans have been left feeling uneasy about the future of their hero. One can be rude to those who convey the message, but in the end the truth will come out. Let’s wait until the end of the year to see what happens in 2025, but Liam Lawson did a great job for RB in Austin and the joy of the Red Bull people seemed to me related to the fact that perhaps they feel that they have found a solution to their problem,” Saward wrote, capturing everyone’s attention, especially the Argentine fans, who are bursting the algorithms of social networks.
And in his speculations he also ended up including Colapinto: “They may also have found a solution to the vacancy that Lawson’s departure at RB could create, since Franco Colapinto is doing a great job for Williams and has no seat in 2025 because the team is committed to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. Red Bull is now said to be sniffing around Franco. Sainz and Albon must stay at Williams at least until the end of 2026, so there is no room at the moment for the Argentine driver, while Red Bull needs a strong young man…”
It will be a time to wait, calm anxieties and focus maximum concentration, with the drivers’ minds focused on doing a good job in the remaining races while the brains of Formula 1 define next year’s grid. After Mexico this weekend there will be Brazil (11/3), Las Vegas (11/24), Qatar (12/1) and Abu Dhabi (12/8). Will there be season 2 for Colapinto’s adventure in Formula 1?