Franco Colapinto’s manager and his arrival in Formula 1: “It was three days working 24 hours”

María Catarieu reveals the behind-the-scenes of the talks that led the Argentine to drive a Williams in the last nine races of motorsport’s highest category. “There was help from the sponsors we already had and people who came forward in the last few days,” he reviewed.

The news shook Argentine motorsports this Tuesday: after more than two decades, an albiceleste driver will once again compete in Formula One. This is about Franco Colapinto, the promising 21-year-old will make a big leap aboard a Williams in the nine remaining races of the season. The person who specified how the crash happened was his manager María Catarieu, key to negotiations with his partner and partner Jamie Campbell-Walter.

In dialogue with Infobae, the business woman in front Bullet Sport Management He recounted the frenzy of talks that had gripped the last few days, after the team’s current former driver, Logan Sargeant, had an accident on Saturday that destroyed his car in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. “It all started over the weekend with a lot of phone conversations. “Jamie gave it to me because I had to charge the phone three or four times every day,” analysis.

“Williams wants Franco no matter what, but it is true that there is support from sponsors who are already there to continue to join until the end of the year. We had the help of sponsors that we already had and have people who came in the past few days and showed their interest”, The story continues, also pointing to a key maneuver that impressed team boss James Wolves: “He told Franco that one of his motivations was to overtake at Imola.” There, the Argentine celebrated his victory in Formula 2, winning with good control of the car in a dispute with Paul Aron.

Of course, Colapinto’s journey to the Williams academy since the beginning of last year also weighed in: “The free practice at Silverstone, what he did these years, they have seen up close. We did not enter into any other negotiations and Franco was the only one we knew. But I always see in conversations a desire to ‘pull the house’to not look for outside options. ThisThey always had an interest in Franco because he was from home and that he is the person to accompany.”

“They told him to be calm, that he didn’t need to impress anyone. What could be the logic, we are not going to break any records tomorrow and do anything different. It will be all studies and we have nine weekends. “Franco will change with the team and with the car at the pace that allows him.” he added.

Finally, Catarieu describes the madness in which he has lived in recent days and the satisfaction of the goal achieved: “Today at noon we managed to sign the contract, which I couldn’t sign because I had so many tears that I read the whole paper. and started again. I finished the signing issue and the dream came true. I have been working for three days, 24 hours a day and Jamie and I haven’t stopped hugging each other’t one to celebrate what happened. “This is the happiest day of my life professionally and one of the happiest personally.”

What Colapinto said after confirming his arrival in Formula 1

“It’s an honor to debut in Formula 1 with Williams. This is where dreams are made. The team has an incredible history and a mission to fulfill: to get back to the forefront, something I can’t wait to be a part of,” Colapinto stated.

“Coming into F1 in the middle of the season will be a big learning experience, but I’m ready for the challenge and I’m totally focused on working as hard as I can’I can work with Alex and the team to make this a success,” added the Argentine.

In turn, James Vowles, team manager, explained: “Mid-season driver change This is not a decision we made lightly, “but we believe it gives Williams the best chance to compete for points.”

“Also We believe in investing in our young drivers at the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco gets a great chance to show what he can do in the last nine rounds of the season.”complete.

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