James on Franco and our “flourishing” Driver Academy

Williams Racing Team Principal James Vowles has spoken about the impact Franco Colapinto had on the team during the latter stages of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Answering a question submitted by a fan for the latest episode of The Vowles Verdict, presented by Kraken, JV highlighted not only Franco’s ability but also his enthusiasm and its ripple effect throughout the team.

“Franco has been a huge positive for the team, and for myself as well,” Vowles began. “First and foremost, just in character, he is an individual that just loved every moment of being in a Formula 1 car and a part of the team.”

Franco’s passion for racing shone through, leaving a mark on the team. “You could see that in what he was expressing to the world, in what he was saying on TV and how he was over the radio,” Vowles said.

“It helps because you have a team really bonded together, providing the opportunity to an individual that deserved his chance, and deserves to be in Formula 1.”

Beyond the emotional impact, Franco’s arrival had real performance benefits. Vowles credited the 21-year-old with pushing Alex Albon throughout their nine-race run as teammates.

“It pushed Alex. There’s no doubt about it,” Vowles commented. “We moved forward as a team because we were finding different areas, different setups, different electronic tools, and different ways of approaching the lap. And every driver in the world, every human being in the world becomes better by being challenged, and ultimately Franco brought that to the team.”

But Franco’s influence extends beyond 2024. His development reflects the depth and promise of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.

“What we saw is we have a great future,” JV explained. “We have an Academy that is flourishing in the background. Franco is a brilliant member of it, but we have many, many more, much younger, down to 10 years old.”

Vowles concluded with a strong endorsement of the Academy’s commitment to developing the next generation of racing talent. “The Williams Academy is real, it’s genuine, and we will put those individuals in the car.”