There's a new name on the Formula 1 grid after it was announced prior to the Italian Grand Prix that Franco Colapinto will be driving for Williams until the end of the 2024 season.
The Argentine replaces the error-strewn Logan Sargeant, whose campaign descended to a new low during the Dutch Grand Prix when he crashed heavily in the final practice, costing the team an estimated £1.5m in repairs.
Here's everything you need to know about Colapinto.
Franco Colapinto age & background
Born 27 May 2003, Colapinto is 21 years of age and hails from Pilar, a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Franco Colapinto career so far
Starting his karting career aged 10, Colapinto competed predominantly in Argentina before venturing to Europe aged 14.
It was when Colapinto claimed victory in the 2018 Youth Summer Olympics that am move to single-seaters arose and he claimed the F4 Spanish Championship title in his second season.
In the following year, the Argentine finished third overall in both Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series, though his pathway was blocked by financial restrictions and Colapinto moved into endurance racing.
Appearing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Colapinto finally unearthed a route into F1 and joined the Formula 3 grid in 2022.
He chalked up two victories in his debut campaign to finish ninth and in the subsequent season with MP Motorsport, Colapinto added another two wins to his portfolio and achieved a fourth-placed championship finish.
The Argentine got his first taste of an F1 car in the 2023 post-season test in Abu Dhabi and promotion to F2 beckoned with MP Motorsport.
Colapinto endured a difficult start to the series but soon began to exhibit his raw speed, taking victory in the sprint race at Imola before claiming podiums in the feature races at Barcelona and the Red Bull Ring.
When did Franco Colapinto join the Williams Academy?
Colapinto joined the Williams Driver Academy in January 2023 after impressing during his rookie season in F3.
Immersed with the team both trackside and at the factory in Grove, Colapinto sampled his first free practice session with Williams at the British Grand Prix.
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