Franco Colapinto: The Clear Choice for Sauber’s 2025 F1 Driver Line-Up

The answer to Sauber's F1 2025 driver conundrum is crystal clear, according to Lewis Larkam.

As Sauber and Audi prolong their decision-making process regarding their final selection for the 2025 F1 team, there's one racer whose impressive performance is making a strong argument for inclusion that deserves attention.

Apart from Red Bull's affiliate team RB, Sauber remains the sole squad with an open spot for a teammate to join newcomer Nico Hulkenberg in the upcoming season.

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Valtteri Bottas seemed in a good spot to keep his Formula 1 seat for the upcoming season, yet the ongoing delay raises a few uncertainties while Audi's new leader, Mattia Binotto, is still considering his choices.

Among the candidates is Mick Schumacher, yet the present backup driver for Mercedes isn't seen as a strong option. A different possibility is Gabriel Bortoleto, the frontrunner in the Formula 2 championship, who is regarded by many as the most likely choice for the position.

The previous season's F3 winner has shown remarkable talent in the lower divisions, but there's also another promising prospect that Sauber ought to think about, assuming they haven't done so yet.

Franco Colapinto has delivered a series of impressive performances, stepping in for the dismissed Logan Sargeant at Williams. The young 21-year-old from Argentina has shown remarkable skill in his initial four Grand Prix races, quickly proving he belongs in Formula 1.

In only his second appearance at Baku, Colapinto ended Alex Albon’s impressive run of 50 races where he outqualified his teammate. He also scored his first points in the world championship by taking advantage of a late collision involving Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.

In the recent United States Grand Prix, he managed to surpass Albon in both the sprint race and the main event on Sunday, overcoming a lackluster qualifying round to climb from 17th to a respectable 10th position.

Colapinto's journey to scoring points featured an impressive maneuver against double world champion Fernando Alonso and recording the quickest lap time on medium tires, a distinction he maintained until Esteban Ocon, following a late pit stop to switch to soft tires by Alpine, surpassed his time.

Despite his recent impressive performance, Colapinto maintained that he still has “much to learn and many areas to enhance”. Witnessing his swift rise to F1 directly, Williams team principal James Vowles is certain that Colapinto has demonstrated he deserves a permanent position.

However, Williams won't have a spot available for 2025, as the British team has secured a deal with departing Ferrari driver Sainz.

"According to Vowles, he truly deserves his spot on the grid after just a handful of races," Vowles mentioned ahead of the United States Grand Prix during a panel discussion at an Autosport Business event in Austin.

“He's still maturing and he's only going to become faster, a fact that's well recognized by other teams on the circuit. Therefore, even though he might be snatching points from us, he's a consummate racing driver and it's clear he belongs in Formula 1. It's as straightforward as that.”

Colapinto has proven that he is capable of performing excellently under intense pressure, smoothly overcoming obstacles, and consistently scoring points. He would make an excellent choice for Sauber to team up with the seasoned veteran Hulkenberg. Furthermore, Williams is receptive to the concept and would not hinder their rising star's progression.

The upcoming season is expected to be challenging for Sauber as they await Audi's entry and the potential benefits of F1's 2026 regulations overhaul. This period would provide Colapinto with an opportunity to enhance and refine his abilities further.

For Sauber, taking on Colapinto wouldn't be considered a significant gamble. Colapinto has undoubtedly established himself as a reliable and familiar figure, presenting the team with an appealing option to address their driver situation.

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