Christian Horner has decisively ruled out the possibility of Franco Colapinto joining either Red Bull Racing or its junior team VCARB for the 2025 F1 season.
The revelation came shortly after the Qatar Grand Prix and marks a major turn in the trajectory of the Argentine driver, who had initially garnered attention for his impressive performances after replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams.
Franco Colapinto’s stint at Williams Racing was intended to be a fixed-term arrangement, allowing him to compete in the final nine races of the season.
The 21-year old’s early performances raised hopes within the F1 community about his potential future with Red Bull Racing, particularly as speculation mounted regarding Sergio Perez’s underwhelming results.
Alpine also wanted to explore Colapinto as an alternative for the already confirmed rookie Jack Doohan.
However, recent races have seen Franco Colapinto struggle with consistency, culminating in a series of crashes that have severely impacted his standing within the team and diminished Red Bull’s interest in securing his services.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Colapinto’s talent but made it clear that he is no longer considered a viable option for either Red Bull Racing or VCARB in the immediate future as the team has a robust pool of drivers within its junior program.
“He [Franco Colapinto], for sure, is a talent that’s looking to earn his permanent place in Formula 1,” Horner said. “We have a great pool of talent within the Red Bull junior team. I’m sure Franco will find his way onto the grid in the future.”
The decision to exclude Colapinto from their 2025 F1 plans appears to stem from a combination of factors. While he initially impressed during his debut races, his recent performances have raised concerns about his ability to handle the pressures of Formula 1.
Crashes at critical moments during races in Brazil and Las Vegas not only cost him valuable points but also led to questions about his readiness for a full-time seat with a top-tier team like Red Bull.
READ ALSO: Watch Franco Colapinto’s 50G Crash during Las Vegas GP qualifying
Franco Colapinto’s situation is further complicated by the fact that Red Bull is looking to promote from within its ranks rather than seek external candidates.
With Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda both showing promise as potential replacements for Perez, who is facing increasing scrutiny over his performance, Red Bull seems intent on leveraging its existing talent pool.
READ ALSO: Sergio Perez future to be determined in Abu Dhabi as Red Bull finalizes 2025 F1 plans
Horner also hinted another option that Red Bull could be seriously considering instead of Colapinto is F2 driver Isack Hadjar, who is in a tight championship battle with Sauber’s 2025 F1 driver, Gabriel Bortoleto.
“You’re always keeping your eye on what the market is in all teams but we have the strength and depth in the junior programme,” Horner said. “It was good to see Isack Hadjar doing a good job today in Formula 2 as well.
“I think there’s what, half a point between the drivers going into the final race in Abu Dhabi. Liam and Yuki were very closely matched in that race [Qatar], in terms of pace, so we’ve got a full stable of drivers.”
The implications for Franco Colapinto are significant. Once viewed as a rising star with a bright future ahead of him in Formula 1, he now faces an uncertain path.
With Williams confirming Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon as their drivers for 2025 F1, Colapinto finds himself without a seat and limited options moving forward.
Franco Colapinto’s management has been proactive in seeking alternatives; however, finding a competitive seat outside of F1 may prove challenging.
“I don’t really know about my future at the moment,“ Colapinto said. “It’s more my managers, James [Vowles, Williams team boss] also we’re involving in what they can do.
“Of course, my goal and my target is to stay in Formula 1. I didn’t come for only a couple of races. I’m trying to show that I’m here to stay, so that’s our goal.
“Of course, Williams has two strong drivers for 2025 F1, so that’s a low possibility, but I’m always very, very grateful to the team.
“Until Abu Dhabi, there is always an opportunity and until the chequered flag, there is always a chance. So we are going to fight strong together to finish the year up there.”
Franco Colapinto also added that he does not want to simply sit on the sidelines as a reserve driver but aims to continue racing competitively.
“I really want to still be racing and still be active,” he said. “I want to be always part of the paddock. I think it’s very important that.
“But, I love racing and if it’s not here, because there is not a chance for ’24/’25, I hope to be around ’26 or ’27. I hope to be showing that I deserve a seat here.
“But if I cannot be racing, instead of looking at the TV for 24 races, I would love to be driving a car somewhere.”
