Colapinto recognises Williams F1 ‘big risk’

Franco Colapinto has acknowledged Williams took a “big risk” to promote him into a full-time race seat.

Colapinto was promoted to the Grove-based squad mid-season to replace the struggling Logan Sargeant.

The Argentine has impressed during his three outings so far, with the race from Baku seeing him take eighth place and his first points in F1.

Colapinto has accepted his promotion came with peril due to his lack of F1 experience over other options that were considered.

“James has been very open and he took a very big risk, he made a big bet and a lot of people were not sure about it,” Colapinto told media including RacingNews365.

“I hope to be showing that I deserve my seat here, that I deserve to be in F1 and to be giving that trust that James gave to put me in the seat.”

Colapinto added Williams has a “legacy” of giving inexperienced drivers their first opportunities in F1.

“I think Williams has been a team that always gave a possibility to young drivers,” he said. 

“It's a bit of the legacy and if you see the history of Williams, how much opportunities they gave to the young drivers, it’s been the biggest team on that.

“It’s a team that is known for that reason as well.”