Williams Racing has announced a major change ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Logan Sargeant has been dropped from the team, and 21-year-old Franco Colapinto will take his place for the remainder of the Formula 1 season.
Sargeant, who has struggled throughout the season, had a difficult return to racing after the summer break, including a crash during practice at Zandvoort. This led to speculation that he might be replaced before the next race, and now it has been confirmed.
Franco Colapinto, a Williams Academy driver, will step into the role. He made his first Formula 1 appearance during the British Grand Prix this year, filling in for Sargeant in FP1. Colapinto has been competing in Formula 2, where he has shown strong performance, including a race win in Imola and podium finishes in Spain and Austria.
Colapinto will be the 49th driver to race for Williams since the team was formed in 1977. He is also the first Argentine driver in Formula 1 in 23 years and the second to drive for Williams, following Carlos Reutemann.
Excited about his new role, Colapinto said, “It is an honor to be making my Formula 1 debut with Williams. This is what dreams are made of. The team has such an amazing history, and I’m fully focused on working hard with Alex Albon and the team to make this a success.”
