Franco Colapinto, the 21-year-old Argentine racing sensation, could be on the verge of a sensational move to Red Bull Racing in 2025, as the team considers replacing Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen. This exciting development has been fueled by a series of cryptic social media posts from Red Bull partners and comments from key figures in the motorsport world, raising the possibility of Colapinto’s promotion to the defending world champions.
A Rising Star in Formula 1
Colapinto has made a major impact since his unexpected promotion to Formula 1. After replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the young driver quickly silenced his critics with standout performances in Azerbaijan, Singapore, and the United States. His impressive results have marked him as one of the most exciting young talents on the grid.
Despite initial doubts about his ability to transition from Formula 2 to Formula 1, Colapinto’s performances have proven that he has the speed, skill, and racecraft to compete at the highest level. His rapid rise has created a headache for Williams team principal James Vowles, who now faces the challenge of finding room for Colapinto in a future lineup that already includes drivers like Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, both contracted for 2026.
Red Bull Connection: A Growing Rumor
The idea of Colapinto joining Red Bull has gained significant traction in recent weeks, spurred on by cryptic posts from Red Bull Argentina, which teased a potential deal by posting an eyes emoji on social media. In addition, Telcel’s Carlos Slim, who has been a key supporter of Mexican driver Sergio Perez, has publicly praised Colapinto’s talent and work ethic, suggesting that the Argentine could be in line for a future move to one of the sport’s most successful teams.
“We have spoken with Franco,” Slim told Motorsport LATAM. “I have a lot of admiration for what he has been achieving, he is also an exceptional person and I think he is consolidating his project very well. If at some point there is an opportunity, we will certainly explore it, but today what we have for him is a lot of admiration.”
Slim’s comments point to a growing interest in Colapinto’s future, particularly from the Red Bull camp. The possibility of a Red Bull move is even more realistic given the team’s current dissatisfaction with Sergio Perez’s performances in recent seasons. With Perez’s seat under increasing pressure, Colapinto could be seen as a potential replacement to partner Verstappen in 2025.
Red Bull’s Growing Interest in Colapinto
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has also expressed interest in the young Argentine, highlighting Colapinto’s impressive performances as part of a wider trend of strong performances from junior drivers. Speaking to media outlets on November 2, Horner acknowledged Colapinto’s potential, alongside other rising stars in the Formula 1 paddock.
“I think it’s great to see these juniors doing a great job,” Horner said. “We’ve got Liam Lawson obviously in the VCARB doing a really good job. Oliver Bearman should get a shoutout today because he was impressive. I think Franco, again, is a kid that’s doing really, really well.”
Horner’s comments suggest that Red Bull is closely monitoring Colapinto’s progress, along with other up-and-coming drivers like Lawson and Bearman. With the team always keeping an eye on the driver market, Colapinto’s strong performances have caught the attention of the Red Bull hierarchy, and he is now being viewed as a potential star of the future.
What’s Next for Colapinto?
As the 2025 season approaches, the likelihood of Colapinto making the move to Red Bull will depend on several factors, including how he continues to perform in his debut season with Williams. Should he continue to impress, a potential deal with Red Bull could be on the cards, positioning him as one of the future faces of Formula 1.
With Red Bull’s interest in the Argentine driver growing and Perez’s future increasingly uncertain, Colapinto’s move to the team could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his career. If this deal comes to fruition, it would be a sensational step for Colapinto, placing him alongside Max Verstappen in one of the most competitive teams in Formula 1.
As the driver market continues to evolve, Colapinto’s name is now firmly in the conversation as one of the sport’s most promising young talents. Red Bull’s keen interest could see him make the jump to the top tier of Formula 1 much sooner than anyone expected.
