Verstappen responds to Colapinto-Red Bull claim: “It’s a bit complicated”

Franco Colapinto will complete the 2024 season with Williams but will be replaced by Carlos Sainz for 2025.

With almost all the seats on the grid now filled, the only options left for Colapinto appear to be Red Bull and RB.

However, this will depend on the Milton Keynes team’s decision regarding Max Verstappen’s current teammate Sergio Perez .

Perez, 34, has a contract with Red Bull for next year but is likely to leave the team at the end of the season due to his poor performances.

That could pave the way for Colapinto to join Red Bull or AlphaTauri, although other candidates such as Yuki Tsunoda , Liam Lawson and F2 reserve driver Isack Hadjar are also competing for those seats.

When asked about the Colapinto and Red Bull rumours, Verstappen replied: “The situation is a bit complicated, it’s difficult to answer that question because he is still under contract with Williams.”

“I think he’s doing a great job. I think Williams is also thinking about Franco’s future.”

“For me personally, this shows that teams in general need to give more chances to young talent and trust them.”

Verstappen admitted the situation was “complex” and said he believed Colapinto deserved a full-time seat in the future.

” The situation is really complicated,” the three-time world champion said.

“Whatever his decision is or whatever his manager decides to do, I think he definitely deserves a place on the grid.”

“But it’s not easy to find a seat right now,” he said.