Fernando Romero Nuñez Franco Colapinto and Williams Racing knew it was going to be a tough weekend. The 21-year-old was forced to wrap up a difficult Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix with a first-lap retirement in what could be his second-to-last race in motorsport’s top series.
Due to heavy crashes at the Brazil GP and qualifying at Las Vegas, the team didn’t have enough top-spec parts to fit the Argentine’s car, resulting in a sub-par performance.
“The car isn’t running very well, and we’re not sure why,” the 21-year-old told Argentine racing outlet Campeones on Saturday. He added in a very aerodynamically demanding track, the car wasn’t performing well in the fast corners, making it hard to drive.
Still, there were some reasons to be hopeful. Despite qualifying in 20th and starting from the pit lane after making changes to their setup for the Sprint race, Colapinto had a solid race, gaining two positions.
Starting from 19th in the Grand Prix race, the Argentine racer was looking for the chance to make up some places once again, but it wasn’t to be.
On the first turn after the start, Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg tried to dive on the inside of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, and the two clashed. Colapinto got caught up in the wreckage, with Ocon touching him in the back of the car and sending him off the track.
“Racing is like that,” said a visibly disappointed Colapinto after the race. “It would’ve been quite a fun race, so I’m angry I couldn’t take part because I felt there was a chance of getting something.”
He added he was concerned about car fixes for the upcoming race after yet another race that ended in a crash. The Argentine driver wasn’t happy with his colleagues’ racing.
“I tried to run as far on the outside as I could, and they still clipped me,” he said. “It’s unbelievable, starting from so far at the back, in that first corner, what they did is a bit silly.”
Colapinto’s next race will be the Abu Dhabi GP, the season closer, from December 6 to 8. Without a seat confirmed for 2025, it could be the last chance for the Argentine to impress and secure a spot.