Colapinto: Reset, refocus and start the learning process again

The American, after a season and a half of trying, could never get a handle on being a Formula 1 driver, let alone doing what the Argentine has done in two races. In contrast, from relative obscurity, Colapinto made a solid F1 debut for Williams at familiar Monza. Now it's Baku; even if he knew it well, the venue is not for the faint-hearted and caught out many during the course of the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and many before that.

Colapinto did everything asked of him, despite crashing out in FP1 and conjuring memories of why he was replaced, namely, no more bent metal, a la Sergeant. But the rookie was entitled to a mistake on a weekend where fellow rookie Oliver Bearman, also doing a fantastic job at Haas, also crashed, as did even pole winner and P2 finisher Charles Leclerc when he pranged his Ferrari.

True champions bounce back from such incidents. They learn. On that front, Colapinto ticked every box, recovering well and keeping it clean in F2 and FP3, and then in qualifying, making it into Q3 and out-qualifying Albon.

Granted, the Thai driver was hampered on his final run, but F1 statistics will always show that in his second race as a Williams driver, Colapinto not only outqualified Albon, he also went on to drive a fantastic race for the team. On Sunday during a tense Baku race, the 21-year-old rookie gave his teammate a free pass as Williams enjoyed the double points haul: P7 Albon and P8 Colapinto.

That's only two GPs in what will be nine for Colapinto with Williams this season. The third happening this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is also a venue and conditions that will again test every driver on the grid more than most venues, particularly the rookies.

Going to Singapore, Colapinto said in the Williams preview of the weekend ahead: "After a positive result in Baku, it’s important to reset, refocus, and start the learning process again for another new track. Singapore is known for being one of the most physically demanding circuits of the season with the temperature and humidity.

"The conditions are a challenge for any driver, and it will be a real test to see how my body is adapting to the demands of driving a Formula 1 car. I’ll be building up throughout the free practice sessions ahead of qualifying. We’ll continue to work hard as a team to hopefully build on the momentum from Baku," added the Argentinian.

No matter how well he does in the next seven GPs, Williams does not have a seat for him as they are committed to Albon and Sainz, but Colapinto's boss, team principal James Vowles, is bullish about the Williams protege. "In two races, he showed the world he's deserving of a place in Formula 1.

"I've always been a firm believer that you have to let good drivers race. So we'll see if we can find a way of working with Audi in that circumstance. Let's see what it ends up being because we have our driver line-up cemented [Sainz and Albon]. I think it's still the right line-up for Williams as we're growing and becoming world-championship material.

"But I'm incredibly proud, like a father, of what Franco's achieved and want him to be successful, and also the right way of having him back here in Williams performing is making sure that he's building his career. Simple as that," explained Vowles.

While Williams is full, it did not stop Vowles cheekily placing Colapinyo on the radar of Sauber aka Audi in 2026. Whatever the case, in two out of nine races Colapinto has impressed. What of the next seven?

In an era of far too many journeymen on the F1 grid, will he end up on the sidelines, cloaked with uncertainty such as the likes of Red Bull's 'ready-to-play' Liam Lawson? Or will teams follow the Vowles route, using talent from their own backyard?