Franco Colapinto has conceded that he “wasn’t expecting” Williams to call on his services to replace Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Williams announced earlier this week that Colapinto will take over the seat that Sargeant had occupied over the remaining nine rounds, beginning this week at Monza.
The Argentine has not competed in an entire race weekend, with his sole F1 experience coming in last term’s post-season test and FP1 at Silverstone earlier this term.
Colapinto has disclosed that he was preparing for the latest Formula 2 event, where he sits sixth in the championship, when he was told about Williams’ F1 intentions.
“For you to imagine, on Monday I was in the Formula 2 team with MP preparing the race with my team for Formula 2 here in Monza,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“So you can imagine how late it was. I don’t know when they were thinking about, but it’s an opportunity that I’ve been always ready for and that I’ve been waiting for so long.
“Since I was a young kid, I was always dreaming of this coming true and happening. And today to have the opportunity to be here speaking to all of you, it’s a pleasure.
“And I am just extremely grateful with Williams for the opportunity. It came very late, of course, but I’m always ready. I was not expecting it, to be honest.
“But I cannot explain you how happy I am to be here with Williams. They have been very supportive and the opportunity that they have given me is insane.”
Colapinto believes his maiden F1 weekend outing in the opening practice session at the British Grand Prix was integral to him being granted this unexpected chance.
“Well, I’m always ready. I’ve been the driver in the background for them for a while. Of course, I did the Free Practice One in Silverstone. I did a good job there.
“They were very happy about the performance and I think I was probably in their mind from before.
“And of course, something maybe I was not waiting. I was fully focused on my Formula 2 season. It was my job before and I was trying to do the best possible.
“I had four races left. I was preparing with the team as best as possible and this was the game. Of course, very sad to not continue with them.
“They have been my family for so many years, since 2020 that we started racing together and I continue doing step by step, championship by championship.
“And today I have to leave them. But you cannot choose when you get to Formula 1. I came in this time, in this race.
“That is a very special weekend here in Monza. So I am super happy, to be honest. I’m very grateful with this working chance.”
Colapinto, who will race with the number 43, has expressed that he feels as prepared as he could be relative to the minimal turnaround time since the announcement.
Asked how much preparation he’s had, Colapinto replied: “Well, not a lot. You can imagine I’ve got a lot of preparation to race in F2. I can go there and do a good job.
“We’ve done in a very, very short time a lot of things. It’s only Thursday today and in the very little amount of time and hours that we had, we worked very well.
“I prepared a seat. I prepared the simulator very, very well.
“The race engineer, the performance engineer, they are giving me all their information, all their tips and details to be quick as soon as possible.
“And to make that learning process a bit quicker.
“So yeah, luckily I think I am privileged that I was able to be in the simulator for so long in the past, even though I was racing only in Formula 2.
“Because at the end it prepared me a little bit more to Formula 1, to go through all those processes. You’ve got so, so many things to do in the car.
“And I think to be doing laps and laps and laps there, it helped me a little bit to be a bit more comfortable today.
“I sit in the car and I know the wheel and many things that are sometimes a bit difficult.
“I think especially with quite a few races to go, it’s just starting a bit more relaxed and trying to go step by step. So yeah, I’m very happy for this chance and to be here.”
Williams boss James Vowles stated the change was made to bolster its chances at amassing points, but Colapinto has denied that he has been set specific targets.
“I think my main focus is focussing on myself, trying to do the best job I can,” he outlined.
“The team has very clear targets, which we are focussing on. So I am focussing on that too and trying to learn as quick as possible.
“As I said before, they are very supportive. Everyone has been giving me a very warm welcome and I am happy to be there with Williams.”
Colapinto’s outings will not be an audition to secure a permanent race drive with Williams in 2025 as the team has signed Carlos Sainz to come in next to Alex Albon.
However, the ex-F2 driver believes not having that additional pressure could be something that he can use to his advantage as he embarks upon his nine-round stint.
“It’s not difficult. Imagine I was expecting to race in Formula 2 this weekend and now I’m in Formula 1. So it’s quite easy. I’m very happy to be here,” he concluded.
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