Franco Colapinto (ARG) MP Motorsport celebrates his third position on the podium. 23.07.2023. FIA Formula 3 Championship, Rd 8, Feature Race, Budapest, Hungary, Sunday. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] Copyright: XPB Images
Williams junior Franco Colapinto will make the step up to Formula 2 for the season finale in Abu Dhabi and will compete in the series full-time with MP Motorsport in 2024.
Colapinto has picked up four race wins, five pole positions and 10 podiums over the course of his two-year Formula 3 stint which began with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2022.
The 20-year-old made the switch to MP Motorsport for this year, picking up points in 14 out of 18 rounds this year to be rewarded with fourth place in the standings.
“I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Colapinto said following the announcement.
“We’ve been working really hard to secure a seat in F2 so this is a dream come true. To be able to do it with MP Motorsport makes it even more special.
“Thanks to Sander and Henk [at MP Motorsport] for their trust and continuing to support me. Being part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy this past year has been an incredible experience and I can’t wait to jump into my F2 car in Abu Dhabi.”
“MP are proven race winners in the category, and staying with them feels absolutely right. It’s a familiar atmosphere for me, and it will be to our advantage that we know each other so well as I enter my debut season in the category.
“I very much look forward to the fresh challenge of a new series, with a brand new car to help develop. I can’t wait to get in the car in Abu Dhabi and then work with the team to be ready for a long and challenging 2024 season.”
Race winner Franco Colapinto (ARG) MP Motorsport celebrates on the podium. 02.09.2023. Formula 3 Championship, Rd 10, Sprint Race, Monza, Italy, Saturday. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] Copyright: XPB Images
With Jehan Daruvala and Dennis Hauger currently occupying race seats with the team, it is not yet clear which driver will step aside to make space for the incoming Argentinian.
However, it has already been confirmed that Daruvala will depart F2 to compete in the upcoming 2023/24 Formula E season, where testing has recently commenced.
“It’s great news that we are able to announce Franco’s promotion to our F2 team so early” said MP Motorsport Team Principal Sander Dorsman.
“This will give us a headstart in our preparations for an exciting 2024 F2 season in which we all start from zero, with the new F2 car offering everyone a new baseline to work from.
“Retaining Franco helps us to maintain stability in that transition, apart from the fact that he’s become a member of the MP family and is an extremely quick and talented driver.”
Keyword: Williams junior Colapinto steps up to F2 from Abu Dhabi