Aditya ChaudhuriBritish Formula One team Williams Racing have announced the signing of 19-year-old Argentine Franco Colapinto to their Williams Racing Driver Academy. Colapinto will be joining the Williams Academy after completing his rookie Formula 3 season last year.
Colapinto’s role as an Academy driver will also see him work with the team both trackside and at their factory, helping in various departments including simulator work to provide crucial feedback for the team’s car development.
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Colapinto, who raced for Van Amersfoort Racing in his debut season in Formula 3, ended the season with an impressive two wins and three podiums to finish ninth in the Drivers’ Championship. He has previously won the Spanish F4 title in 2019 and has also raced in the Formula Renault Eurocup and Toyota Racing Series in 2020, where he won three races and finished on the podium a total of 17 times across both competitions. Colapinto also raced for MP Motorsport in 2021 in the Formula Regional European Championship and has competed in both the European and Asian Le Mans Series.
Whilst being with Williams, Colapinto will switch to MP Motorsport for the upcoming Formula 3 season.
Franco Colapinto commented:
“It’s a real honour to join Williams Racing as an Academy Driver. hey are one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history and I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of my fellow countryman Carlos Reutemann. It’s an incredible opportunity for which I am forever grateful. Thanks to everyone at Williams for putting their trust in me.
“I am also excited to announce that I will be back with MP Motorsport for the 2023 FIA F3 season. I really enjoyed my time with the team in Eurocup and FRECA and we achieved some great results together. The goal is to reach even higher this time. My first year in FIA F3 was all about learning and I will use all the knowledge I’ve gathered to aim for the title next year.
“I am grateful to everyone who made this possible. Bullet Sports Management, YPF, ROFGO Racing, and of course, my beloved country Argentina. Thank you for all the support. I can’t wait to get the season started.“
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at Williams Racing, added:
“We’re delighted to welcome Franco to the Williams Racing Driver Academy. His career achievements since starting karting highlight Franco’s natural ability behind the wheel and what he’s capable of in the years to come. He had a standout rookie season in Formula 3 with several strong performances that led to podiums and wins. We look forward to working closely with Franco to support and nurture his development as a driver.“
