It wasn’t easy, but Franco Colapinto’s racing debut was all the more impressive as he nearly scored points starting from P18. The new Williams driver was overwhelmed after the Italian Grand Prix.
“It was tough, but also fantastic,” he told F1TV afterwards, grinning from ear to ear. According to him, there was a mix of excitement and doubt before the race. “I hadn’t driven more than eight consecutive laps in training. For instance, I couldn’t do a long run with a lot of fuel in the car. So, a few things were new to me during the race. The fact that I almost scored points is amazing.”
The 21-year-old Argentine’s Performance
The 21-year-old Argentine, who will replace the dismissed Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season, was satisfied with P12. Especially considering he started eighteenth. “And also considering the preparations, all the rush this week. Last Monday, I was still in a Formula 2 simulator.”
Colapinto’s Journey with MP Motorsport
Until this weekend, Colapinto drove in that class for the Dutch MP Motorsport. For the rest of the year, Williams will be his employer in Formula 1. His teammate is Alex Albon, who Colapinto had high praise for after his racing debut. “I had so many questions for him over the past few days, and he patiently answered them all. I’m extremely grateful to him, as well as the entire team. This gives me confidence for the next race in Azerbaijan.” He added with a laugh: “And I have a bit more time to prepare for it.”
Italian Grand Prix Highlights
Read here about Ferrari’s victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
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