Ralf Schumacher slams Williams' choice of Colapinto: 'Absurd!'

F1 News

Ralf Schumacher on choosing Williams for Colapinto and on Mick
29 August at 11:30
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  • Cas van de Kleut

Not Mick Schumacher or Liam Lawson, but Franco Colapinto will be in action on behalf of Williams for the rest of the season. He told the Deutschen Presse-Agentur that Ralf Schumacher finds it incomprehensible that his nephew has not been chosen to finish the season.

Colapinto replaces Logan Sargeant, who was having a disappointing season. However, Mick Schumacher was also an option for Williams. Mercedes tried to convince Williams to go for the Silver Arrows' reserve driver. In the end, the team opted for the Argentinian.

Schumacher: 'Williams' choice of Colapinto is absurd'

Ralf Schumacher does not understand why Williams did not go for Mick: "You could respect the decision because Colapinto is a driver from Williams' junior programme. But I think it is absurd and doesn't make sense when you look at performance. I think the risk for the team and also for the driver is much, much bigger than if they had put someone with experience like Mick in."

What could play a role in the decision to give Colapinto a seat is that he has many sponsors. However, according to Ralf Schumacher, from a management perspective, there is "no amount in the world" that would justify the decision. He argued that, because of the difficult year the team is having, Williams would have been better off going for a driver who could have taken the team forward.

On his nephew, Ralf said, "You have to be honest and admit that during his second season, Mick took too long to find his form and to control his teammate. Formula 1 is unforgiving."

This article has been written in collaboration with Matt Gretton