Franco Colapinto: The Clear Answer to Sauber’s 2025 Driver Dilemma

Sauber's approach to resolving their driver issue for the 2025 F1 season should be clear, according to Lewis Larkam.

While Sauber and Audi keep postponing their final decision on who will fill the remaining spot in their F1 2025 team, one driver is presenting a strong argument that deserves attention.

Apart from Red Bull's affiliated team, Sauber is the only other team with an open spot for next season to join newly signed Nico Hulkenberg.

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Valtteri Bottas seemed to be in a strong position to keep his spot in Formula 1 for the following season. However, the delay in confirmation raises uncertainties, as Audi's new head, Mattia Binotto, evaluates his choices.

Among the potential candidates is Mick Schumacher, who presently serves as a reserve driver for Mercedes, although he is not widely considered a strong candidate. Another option is Gabriel Bortoleto, the frontrunner in the Formula 2 championship, who many think is the leading choice for the position.

Although the previous year's F3 titleholder has shown remarkable talent in the lower racing tiers, Sauber ought to also be looking at another young contender, if they haven't done so already.

Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto has delivered a series of impressive performances after stepping in to replace Logan Sargeant, who was released from Williams. At just 21 years old, Colapinto has excelled in his first four Formula 1 races, appearing immediately comfortable in the sport.

In only his second appearance in Baku, Colapinto ended Alex Albon's impressive run of outqualifying his teammate, which had lasted 50 races. He secured his first world championship points by taking advantage of a late collision between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.

During last weekend's United States Grand Prix sprint event, he surpassed Albon in speed and performance. On Sunday, he once again outperformed his teammate in the main race. After a less-than-ideal qualifying session, he made an impressive comeback, moving up from 17th place to finish in 10th.

Colapinto's journey to scoring points featured an impressive overtaking maneuver against two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. He also clocked the fastest lap of the race using medium tires, maintaining this record until Esteban Ocon took it away, as Alpine brought him in for a switch to soft tires during the final laps.

Even after his impressive recent performance, Colapinto emphasized that he "still has much to learn and many areas to improve." Observing his swift rise to Formula 1 up close, Williams team principal James Vowles believes Colapinto has demonstrated sufficient skill to secure a permanent position.

However, Williams has no room for the 2025 season since the British team has already secured a contract with departing Ferrari driver Sainz.

"In my view, he has undoubtedly proven that he deserves a spot on the grid after just a few races," Vowles stated during an Autosport Business panel discussion ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

"He is still developing and will continue to increase his speed, which is something other teams on the circuit are aware of. Although he may be taking points from our team, his talent as a professional racer means he deserves to compete in Formula 1. It's as straightforward as that."

Colapinto has shown his ability to perform at the top tier even when facing intense pressure, expertly bouncing back from challenges and scoring crucial points. He would be an excellent candidate for Sauber to partner with the seasoned Hulkenberg. Furthermore, Williams are receptive to the concept and would not hinder their promising young talent's opportunity.

As Sauber prepares for another challenging season before Audi joins and the new F1 regulations take effect in 2026, Colapinto will have the opportunity to continue improving and refining his abilities.

For Sauber, taking this step would not entail a significant risk. Colapinto has already demonstrated that he is a reliable and established talent, providing the team with an intriguing option to address their driver predicament.

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