Argentine race driver Franco Colapinto wrapped up a solid race at the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday. The 21-year-old finished in 14th place after starting from the pit lane in last place. 

It was an intense weekend for the Argentine racer. Chasing a spot in the final stage of qualifying, Colapinto clipped the barriers on the inside of turn 14 and hit the wall on the other side with a force of 50G. The crash was serious enough to threaten his participation in the race, but he was cleared by F1’s medical staff.

His car had to be substantially rebuilt, and Williams Racing took the opportunity to make changes to its tuning, forcing them by rule to launch the race from the pit lane in the last spot.

Far from the highlights as the top cars fought for the win and the title, the 21-year-old from Buenos Aires Province secured quick and consistent lap times to shorten the gap to the points positions.

The race was marked by tire issues, forcing all drivers to make multiple pit stops. The cold Las Vegas night forced the rubber to operate at temperatures lower than ideal. This caused the surface of the tire to break up, reducing the area in contact with the asphalt and, with it, the car’s grip, a phenomenon known as “graining.”

While he ran in the points for parts of the race, Colapinto had to settle for 14th after pushing for 12th place saw him lose pace in the final laps. He was the only Williams car to finish the race after teammate Alex Albon had to retire the car with an engine problem.

“I felt a bit slow afterward, I didn’t know what was going on,” Colapinto said after the race. “I’m glad they allowed me to race. They said it was a concussion and sent me to the hotel for the day.”

He added he was angry with himself following the crash, as he felt he was on pace for a spot in Q3, the final stage of qualifying.

“I wanted to give the mechanics something to celebrate today, but we’ll have to do it in [the next race at] Qatar. We have to build these guys a statue.”

Williams team principal James Vowles defended his performance, highlighting Colapinto’s eagerness to race after the crash and saying the Argentine did “a good job” despite there being few places to be gained after the pit lane launch.

Verstappen clinches fourth World Driver’s Championship

While Colapinto worked hard to regain lost ground, the front of the grid was a different story. Defending champion Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive world driver’s title after he finished just one spot ahead of his last remaining rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Colapinto, who’s been tapped to drive as Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing in 2025, said it was a well-earned win.

“He’s a great driver. If you ask me, the best in F1 nowadays, and with a car that wasn’t up to the challenge in many races.” The 21-year-old added he saw Verstappen as “someone to learn from” and that he “hopes one day he can beat him.”

The 27-year-old Dutchman had talked about Colapinto on the eve of the Brazilian GP when he was asked whether the Argentine deserved a spot in F1 for 2025: “Whatever he or his management decides to do, does he deserve a place on the grid? With what he has shown so far, I think so.”

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