Franco Colapinto said his sudden promotion to Formula 1 following last week’s Dutch Grand Prix was “a complete rollercoaster.”
Williams announced on Tuesday he would replace Logan Sargeant in their line-up with immediate effect. Colapinto was due to continue his Formula 2 season at Monza this weekend but was called into a meeting with Williams team principal James Vowles and sporting director Sven Smeets when he visited the team’s factory on Monday.
“I think Disney doesn’t even have a rollercoaster close to how it was, this one,” Colapinto told the official F1 channel. “It was insane, to be honest.
“On Monday I was at MP doing the preparation for the F2 race. I did sim [work] there all day and then I had to fly in the evening to England to be in the factory in Williams, it was already planned from many months ago.
“And there was where I realised: I had a meeting with James, with Sven. They have been super-supportive, not only today and not only here, giving me a chance and an amazing opportunity that I dreamt about years ago.”
Colapinto has already driven the FW46 he will race this weekend, in practice for the British Grand Prix last month.
“In their home race, to give me a chance of driving in free practice, it was an amazing experience,” he said. “I think it’s also prepared me a little bit more for this chance.
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“So I am just super-grateful to the team. They have been really supportive. Now everyone in the team has been trying to make that process a bit quicker of learning and I am very comfortable and I am extremely happy to be here today. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Williams dropped Logan Sargeant, who was already due to leave the team at the end of the year, following his heavy crash in practice last weekend which destroyed one of the team’s examples of its new upgrade. Alexander Albon claimed his highest starting position of the season with eighth place before he was disqualified for a technical infringement.
Colapinto therefore believes he could be able to challenge for a points finish on his debut, as Nyck de Vries did when he drove for the team at the same race two years ago. “I don’t think it’s unrealistic,” he said.
“Of course I want to go step-by-step. I want to start well with the car and then put some expectations in it.
“I don’t have much information about what is going to happen during the races and all that yet because I haven’t…
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