Williams Dismiss ‘Pay Driver’ Label as Franco Colapinto Prepares for Italian GP Debut

Williams rejects the notion that Franco Colapinto is a 'pay driver'

"He doesn't bring any financial backing"

When asked if Franco Colapinto brings sponsorship to the team, Williams replied that he "doesn't bring any money."

Colapinto has been chosen to take over for Logan Sargeant, who has not been performing well, partway through the season. He will make his Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

The young Argentine, a member of the Williams academy, narrowly beat out Mick Schumacher and Liam Lawson to secure a spot in the car.

Williams' team leader James Vowles mentioned to Sky Sports regarding Colapinto, "He doesn't bring any financial backing."

"An extraordinary aspect has been that as soon as we notified him and his management team of our decision, we were inundated with calls from Argentinian businesses eager to join us."

"You'll notice stickers being added to the car. They're being fairly charged at the appropriate value and rate for them."

"It's not about the money due to Franco. They are seeking visibility for the car and the pride of featuring an Argentinian driver."

"If you're familiar with him, you'll know that he's managed his entire career on a very tight budget, without any financial resources."

“He doesn’t own anything.”

Martin Brundle questions Colapinto's readiness

“Formula 1 is not a place for learning; it represents the highest level of the sport,” remarked Martin Brundle from Sky Sports.

"If you fail to complete the task, someone else will step in and get it done."

“That’s the way it works. You get your opportunity when someone else is removed.”

"If you look at the series of mishaps Logan has been involved in, he's caused significant harm. It's no shock that a change was necessary."

“There’s nothing particularly remarkable about Colapinto’s career so far. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s important not to make snap judgments about someone’s potential.”

"Nyck de Vries made a remarkable impact when he joined Williams two years ago."

Karun Chandhok mentioned that, with the exception of Red Bull teams which frequently switch their drivers, you'd need to look back 15 years to find a situation where a rookie replaced a driver because of their performance.

“This is a rare occurrence in Formula 1.”

“It’s evident that Williams believed they couldn’t continue with Sargeant.”

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