Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes that a move to Red Bull would be a “mistake” for Franco Colapinto, saying it is “too early” in his career for such a big move.
The young Argentine driver has been linked with joining the Red Bull team next season, after showing strong performances in his limited time on the F1 grid. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has reportedly met with Williams boss James Vowles to discuss Colapinto’s future.
Chandhok: Franco Colapinto to Red Bull ‘too soon’, VCARB the ‘sensible’ choice
PlanetF1.com understands that the talks between Horner and Vowles were about exploring options for Colapinto, with Vowles confirming that other teams have shown interest in the driver.
However, Vowles also mentioned he’s working on a solution that “protects Franco as well and protects all parties.”
Colapinto is expected to leave the F1 grid by 2025, with Carlos Sainz joining Williams next season and Alex Albon already under contract. However, Colapinto’s performances since replacing Logan Sargeant have impressed many, with Vowles mentioning that “multiple teams” are interested in him.
Red Bull is believed to be one of the teams considering Colapinto, but former Lotus and HRT driver Karun Chandhok thinks moving to Red Bull might be too big a step at this point in Colapinto’s career. Chandhok suggested a place at Red Bull’s sister team, VCARB, could be a better option if the team decides to part ways with Sergio Perez at the end of this year.
“He’s clearly very quick, clearly very talented,” Chandhok said about Colapinto on the Sky F1 podcast. “I think we’ll all admit, including Williams, that it’s been a bit of a surprise, because his junior formula record didn’t suggest he’s going to be as good as he has been, and maybe he is well suited to an F1 car or the style of driving. But I think it’d be a mistake to put him in a Red Bull.”
Chandhok continued, “I think it’s too early. I think if they were talking about putting him in an RB, I think that’ll be a good, sensible choice and a career progression for him.”
However, he added, “I think if they put him in a Red Bull alongside Max, it could destroy him. I think it’d be too soon.”
Chandhok’s preferred scenario would be for Perez to improve and stay in the Red Bull seat, which would avoid the need for a change. But if Perez’s performance doesn’t improve, he suggested that Red Bull might replace him with Liam Lawson and place Colapinto at VCARB.
Chandhok explained, “Because honestly, if you look at the run he’s had, it’s like a guy who has done the perfect job interview, right? He’s come there, made an impact, bang, quick straight away. Results [in] Singapore, Baku, amazing.”
But he noted, “But then as you’ve got into it and the races are unfolding, in Mexico, he was some way off Alex in qualifying, and Brazil, he was some way off Alex in qualifying, two big shunts – it’s still not the complete package in terms of his experience, I think.”
Chandhok concluded by saying, “I would think even for himself and his own management, I’d probably say, ‘let’s think of the long term here’.
And if there’s an option of RB instead of going to Red Bull, I think that would be better for him, and it’s probably a better choice for Red Bull to be making as well.”
