Christian Horner has dropped the biggest hint that Red Bull is interested in signing Franco Colapinto for F1 2025, hailing the Williams driver as a “potential star of the future”.

Colapinto has made a good impression since taking over for Logan Sargeant. Williams Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, he scored points in only his second F1 appearance at the challenging Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan.

Christian Horner questions Red Bull’s pursuit of Franco Colapinto

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

The Argentine followed this up with a 10th-place finish at last month’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

With Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon set to race for Williams in F1 2025, Colapinto is unlikely to compete for his current employer next season, with team boss James Vowles open to allowing the 21-year-old driver to join a rival team.

Speculation Red Bull Colapinto’s mobility improved at the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on Friday and Horner was seen leaving Williams’ hospitality unit shortly before practice.

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PlanetF1.com understands Colapinto is in serious contention to join the Red Bull group for F1 2025, with a second undisclosed team (not thought to be Audi F1, the only non-Red Bull team yet to finalize its driver line-up for next season). in frame.

When asked whether Red Bull was among the teams interested in Colapinto, Horner pointed out the immediate impact Red Bull VCARB driver Liam Lawson and Haas youngster Oliver Bearman have made in F1 2024.

And he said Red Bull is monitoring the driver market closely and Colapinto has marked him as a star of the future.

Horner told Sky F1: “I think it’s great to see these young people doing a great job.

“Liam Lawson has certainly done a really good job at VCARB. Oliver Bearman should get credit for being impressive today.

“I think Franco is again a really good kid.

“Of course you always monitor the driver market and I think Franco definitely has the qualities to be a potential star of the future.”

Horner’s comments come after Vowles confirmed Williams was “actively working” with relevant teams to find a solution for Colapinto in 2025 F1.

He also revealed that Colapinto’s plans for next season are expected to be decided before the F1 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi next month.

Speaking at the team bosses’ press conference in Sao Paulo on Friday, Vowles said: “The best thing I can really tell you is that we are actively working with the teams trying to find the right arrangement that will help Franco and at the same time protect Franco and protect all parties.”

“So there’s a lot along those lines. There is the same concept behind it.

“It’s never easy between Formula 1 teams because you’re fighting on the track and trying to find a solution for a young man’s career, but he deserves his place.”

“The outcome of events is that he needs to do more on track to earn his place, but he is shining and that’s why the teams are interested and we have a responsibility to that, I have a responsibility to him and to Williams and hopefully we can do that.” I will have great news that I can talk to everyone about. But today this is not possible.

“It’s always difficult to do these things because you’re talking about multiple teams talking together.

“But I am confident that we will achieve this before the last race of the season.

“But it’s really hard for me to pinpoint exactly where it is between those two timelines.”

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