Rookie Colapinto impresses at Williams: Was Sainz the right choice for '25?

Formula 1 teams tend to opt for the old, familiar names. Take drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas. They are now older, driving around anonymously in the midfield (or even worse) and with no opportunities to move to a top team. And yet they have not (yet) been replaced by younger drivers who have a future in the sport. Why not? Because teams know what they have to gain from these drivers. Their performance level is known, and they usually don't have many crashes.

Rookies are more unpredictable. They can win regularly in Formula 2, but there is no certainty that they will have a successful career in F1. Another factor that should not be underestimated is pressure, and not everyone can handle it. Moreover, rookies almost always cause damage. Damage costs money that cannot be used to develop the car further, so the choice is quickly made: No rookie. Instead, it is a familiar name, even if it brings nothing extra.

Williams deliberately chose not to have a rookie

A few weeks ago, Williams was overjoyed to have secured Carlos Sainz for 2025 and beyond. Sainz is a proven Grand Prix winner who has worked at Ferrari at the top level. Team boss James Vowles even ranked him among the top three drivers on the grid. Williams is convinced that the Spaniard can reach a fairly consistent level and should be able to score points regularly.

Fair is fair; Sainz has not made a significant impression in recent months. Yes, he won a Grand Prix this season, but his teammate Charles Leclerc has since done it twice. Meanwhile, the Monegasque is clearly beating his teammate weekly, demonstrating why he - and not Leclerc - had to make way for Lewis Hamilton in 2025. His odd manoeuvre on Sunday in the closing stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which caused him to end up in the wall with Sergio Perez, was an example of Sainz's lack of top-notch form.

Colapinto shows his class

Meanwhile, the British racing team has recently had an Argentinian junior named Franco Colapinto in one of its cars, a driver who is impressing as Sargeant's replacement. Sure, Sargeant was also a rookie last season. However, the American was never known for his talent, unlike Colapinto. In Baku last weekend, the South American already scored points for the first time. Yet, however strong the youngster performs in 2024, he has to make way for Sainz.

It's easy to talk in hindsight. And yes, Colapinto, too, will probably make a stupid mistake somewhere in the remaining races, thus throwing away important points. But in retrospect, signing Sainz does not seem to have been necessary at all, as I am sure the Spaniard would not get much more - if any at all - out of the Williams. Moreover, Colapinto would have been a cheaper option, and he appears to be a huge magnet for sponsors from Argentina. The main argument: Colapinto is only 21 years old, and Williams could enjoy him for many years to come.

Above all, Colapinto should continue on the path he has embarked on. Chances are that another F1 team will then quickly pick him up, and the Argentinian will prove Williams wrong there.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton