F1 Silly Season Ignites Again in Brazil
A shocking rumor at the Brazilian Grand Prix suggests that Red Bull Racing might pair Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto with Max Verstappen starting in 2025.
At the Mexican GP 2024 © Red Bull Red Bull’s patience with Sergio Perez appears to be wearing thin, especially after Perez qualified only 13th for Saturday’s sprint race. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team boss, told Viaplay that Perez was up to six-tenths slower than Max Verstappen. “That’s too much,” Horner commented.
On Friday, Horner was seen leaving the Williams team’s hospitality suite. Williams has Colapinto, 21, under a solid contract for 2025, but without a race seat available. Williams boss James Vowles joked about the visit, saying, “We recently signed a new coffee sponsor, and he wanted to try it,” adding with a smile, “That was a good part of the conversation.”
Horner downplayed the meeting, telling Sky Italia, “There are no negotiations at the moment. We have Liam Lawson, who’s doing a great job.” He noted, “There’s always talent in the Red Bull program. We have plenty of issues to discuss up and down the pitlane, but Franco is doing well, and we’ll keep an eye on him.”
At Interlagos, Vowles admitted that “multiple teams” are interested in Colapinto, whose speed, charisma, and commercial appeal in Argentina and beyond have impressed the F1 world. “Our responsibility is towards him and Williams,” Vowles said. “Hopefully, we’ll have exciting news soon, but nothing yet.”
In another rumor reported by Kleine Zeitung, Red Bull may drop Perez and lure Carlos Sainz from Williams, enabling Vowles to partner Colapinto with Alex Albon in 2025.
Max Verstappen remarked at Interlagos, “It’s complex because Colapinto is contracted to Williams. He’s doing a great job. I think Williams might also be wondering what to do with Franco.”