Franco Colapinto made an impressive entry into Formula 1, sparking speculation about a potential spot on the 2025 grid. Since stepping in for Logan Sargeant at Williams, he has managed to score points in two races with the team. Although he doesn’t yet have a confirmed seat for 2025, James Vowles, the Williams team principal, revealed that the team is in active discussions with other teams to secure him a place.

During the Brazilian Grand Prix, rumors began circulating that Colapinto could be a candidate to drive alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, potentially taking Sergio Perez’s seat. Red Bull’s interest was further fueled by discussions at Interlagos, where Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was seen visiting the Williams team to meet with Vowles. However, questions remain about where Colapinto would fit if he joined Red Bull’s lineup.

Sources from Interlagos suggest that Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor, favors Liam Lawson, who has also shown strong performance. In this arrangement, Colapinto could potentially drive alongside Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull’s sister team.

However, Horner has shared his own vision, preferring to promote Colapinto directly to Red Bull alongside Verstappen, while Lawson would begin his first full F1 season with RB. Horner sees this as an opportunity to capitalize on Colapinto’s popularity in Argentina and across Central and South America. Yet this strategy also carries risks, given Colapinto’s limited experience in F1.

Marko, meanwhile, views Lawson’s potential promotion as a return to Red Bull’s tradition of advancing drivers from its program. After four years with Perez, promoting Colapinto could cast doubt on Red Bull’s development pipeline. Lawson’s recent performance, however, has strengthened his case for a main team role.

For now, Colapinto remains with Williams, and Vowles has set a high price to any team interested in him. Meanwhile, another rumor has linked Colapinto to Alpine, despite the team already confirming Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan. This speculation was further fueled by a recent Alpine test in Qatar, where junior driver Victor Martins and Doohan were expected to participate, but Gasly’s appearance raised questions. Some believe his presence was intended to provide additional feedback on Doohan’s performance.