Why a Red Bull 'switch' is not out of the question for F1 sensation Colapinto

With the dust of the United States Grand Prix settled, when given a cursory glance, one thing stands out from the final results from the Circuit of the Americas: Franco Colapinto finished on P10, picking up another point.

It is a confirmation that Williams made the right choice to put him in the FW46 as replacement for Logan Sargeant.

The young Argentine has impressed from the moment he stepped in the car, but a big problem remains: there doesn't seem to be a seat available for 2025.

The facts of the matter are well-trodden by now. Williams has already announced its lineup for 2025 and has big plans for both Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon.

So, no chance for Colapinto at his own team and also at the 'only' team that has not yet made its choice, Stake/Audi, his chances appear slim.

However, there is another team that still has a seat available, RB. Red Bull's second team that 'normally' only works with drivers from its own training programme.

After all, the Argentine is a part of Williams' academy and the team from Grove wants to keep it that way. Talks with Stake would therefore involve a loan deal, and that seems to be the most obvious route with Red Bull as well - and for a number of reasons.

Marko is a fan

For months, Helmut Marko has been shouting from the rooftops for youth to be given a chance. Finally, the Austrian seems to have been proven right, as Red Bull said goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo during the autumn break and replaced him with Liam Lawson.

The New Zealander has been given six rounds to prove himself in pursuit of a seat at either Red Bull or RB. Lawson immediately showed his worth in Austin, delivering a ninth-place finish, despite starting from the rear of the field.

It opens the door for a possible driver change at Red Bull, which will also have major implications for the sister team. 

For if Lawson, who seems assured of a 2025 seat anyway, is to replace Sergio Perez, a seat will become vacant in the Red Bull family.

A logical contender for the seat next to Yuki Tsunoda would then be Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman is a Red Bull junior and is currently second in the Formula 2 championship standings.

But Colapinto is certainly not without a chance, as Helmut Marko is very keen on the Argentine. The Austrian has cited the Williams driver positively in interviews on several occasions and even confessed that he has thought about bringing Colapinto to the Red Bull junior program in the past.

What does not help is that Marko seems to have less and less influence over driver choices. This was evident in the situation regarding Ricciardo. Indeed, had it been up to Marko, the Australian's resignation would have been implemented after the Spanish Grand Prix, in June.

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Argentine market

One advantage Colapinto brings with him over a driver like Hadjar is the Argentine market. It has been years since Argentine motorsports fans have had anything to cheer about, but they are now making up for lost time - F1 madness has struck in the South American country again.

At Monza, as well as Baku, Singapore and COTA, Argentine fans were present in large numbers and heard loudly.

Argentina is a sports-mad country and young Colapinto has been embraced as a hero. The government wants to revive the Argentinian Grand Prix and Williams already brought in many new sponsors from South America.

That could be of interest to Red Bull as well. There are even rumours that Perez's sponsors, who represent a large market in Latin America, are also looking at Colapinto with a slanted eye.

If Perez quits Formula 1 or is dropped by Red Bull, the young Argentine could be a good alternative.

The Sainz situation

And then there is the Sainz situation. The Spaniard had to look for a new team even before the first race of 2024. Sainz seemed to be gambling on a chance at a top team, but a move never materialised.

He eventually chose the ambitious Williams, but there are still whispers in the paddock that there is a certain clause in his contract that could still allow him to leave for a top team.

One of the teams Sainz was hoping for was Red Bull, where there was talk earlier this year of Max Verstappen leaving. Should that departure come unexpectedly next year or later, Red Bull might have a good trump card in its hands toward Williams.

After all, if Red Bull is cooperating in the development of a Williams talent, surely the team from Grove will be less difficult when inquiring about Sainz in Milton Keynes?

Sainz does not seem likely to win a Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, but would no doubt be considered if the Dutchman were to leave unexpectedly.

In addition, relations between Williams and Red Bull are good, and in the past Alexander Albon has already been 'loaned' by Red Bull to the Grove team for a year. It could just be that we are going to see a similar deal for 2025, but in the other direction...