Marko plays down Colapinto’s Red Bull chances

DECEMBER 1, 2024

Dr. Helmut Marko has played down Franco Colapinto’s chances of securing a Red Bull race spot in 2025.

Franco Colapinto, Qatar GP 2024
© Williams

It is clear that the Mexican driver’s ongoing performance issues could lead to his exit from Red Bull Racing, despite Sergio Perez’s protests.

We’ve lost the constructors’ title this year unless a big miracle happens. Marko told Viaplay in Qatar. “The employees only get a bonus if we become master designers. This means they are missing out on a lot of money.”

It becomes a difficult story for a driver when you lose the support or trust of the people who work with you. the Austrian added menacingly.

Marko says a meeting in Abu Dhabi will decide Perez’s fate.

Colapinto, 21, has been linked with the seat or a place in RB’s youth squad if Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda are promoted.

Marko admits that the current RB duo are the most likely candidates and not Colapinto, who still has a long-term contract with Williams.

I think so, said the Austrian.

We need to have the best drivers in our car, but so far the best candidates come from our own talent program. I don’t see anyone outside of our own program being available and at a higher level than our own drivers.

Colapinto’s manager Jamie Campbell-Walter suggests the Argentine’s chances have been hurt by his series of recent accidents with his Williams.

It comes from the pressure of not knowing what the future holds, which is sometimes worse than knowing he told motorsport-magazin.com.

Campbell-Walter also seems unhappy with Williams, particularly when it comes to a particular accident in Brazil. Franco had never driven in the rain and asked for rain tires. he said. “They told him to survive, survive, survive.

He also has an entire nation on his shoulders. I can’t imagine what that’s like. And it is very easy to criticize from outside.

Sky Italia asked Colapinto in Qatar about the rumors linking him to Red Bull and Alpine.

I don’t know, let’s hope he replied. It’s difficult. That’s something I’m not looking at at the moment. But for me it is of course the most important thing.

He also emphasized to RTBF that the spate of recent accidents had not destroyed his self-confidence.

No. I am confident in what I can do. Colapinto told the Belgian broadcaster. “In Vegas I felt good, I was confident, I set good times. But I found myself in a situation where I had to ride at the limit and touch the walls a little more, and unfortunately I got a little too close.”

But that’s part of the learning process.

(GMM)