Franco Colapinto was the talk of the paddock after Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, when he pulled off a first-turn overtake, climbing from 12th to ninth in one fell swoop. However, some on the grid were unhappy with the 21-year-old’s move, chief among them current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
The Spanish driver expressed his displeasure with Colapinto’s move to sports outlet ESPN. “I had a good launch and then I had to be careful with [Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc], but then his Williams came out of nowhere braking extremely late. I think Franco could’ve taken two or three guys off,” said the former Renault and McLaren driver.
Sainz, the son of two-time rally world champion Carlos Sainz Sr, will leave Ferrari at the end of the season to join Williams until 2026, and will occupy Colapinto’s seat next to Thailand’s Alexander Albon.
“It’s the kind of risk you take when you’re a rookie and don’t know where to brake in turn one,” Sainz added. “There wasn’t an accident, but when you’re fighting the Constructors’ championship you have to be more careful. Other cars have less to race for and they can gamble on the race start.”
Ferrari is currently third in the Constructors’ championship, which crowns the team with the most points between its two drivers. The Italian team sits on 441 points, 75 units behind leaders McLaren.
Albon defended Colapinto’s overtake. The Thai driver had initially protested the move, claiming the Argentine had dive-bombed — a risky racing maneuver that involves braking extremely late for a turn in an attempt to gain a space to overtake — and forced him off the track. After the race, however, he changed his mind.
“His move was fine,” Albon told ESPN. “I think he surprised even himself. In the end, anyone would’ve done the same. Having looked at it, I think it was a fine move from Franco. There was no ill intent.”
Another to defend Colapinto’s race was Williams Team Principal James Vowles, complimenting his performance in a post-race radio message for the Argentine driver: “You did a fantastic race. This is one of the toughest races you have ever done and you were there, seconds from the points. We win together, we lose together. […] But I can tell you one thing, I’m really excited by these last six races together.”
Colapinto looked proud of the overtake after the race, telling ESPN he “saw a gap on the inside and went for it” and that he was happy he was “in the fight for the points thanks to it.”