Colapinto pinpoints F1 debut aim after amazing qualifying save
Franco Colapinto has outlined what his main target will be during his F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix.
Having stepped up from F2 to replace Logan Sargeant, the Argentine will seek to learn more about tyre management over the 53-lap race.
The new Williams driver will line up P18 on the grid, whilst Alexander Albon will start from ninth.
However, whereas his new team-mate will be chasing his third points-scoring finish of the season, Colapinto believes the “most important part” for him will be to better understand the Pirelli tyres.
“It’s gonna be tough,” he told media including RacingNews365 when asked about his expectations for his first race in F1.
“I want to try and learn the most I can from the session and try to understand more the tyres. I think that is the most important part. And let’s see how it is.”
The 21-year-old, who is the first Argentine F1 driver since Gaston Mazzacane in 2001, feels that whilst he has “had a good start” to life in the so-called pinnacle of motorsport, he must continue to improve over the coming rounds.
“I feel like we have good potential, and that I have to do, of course, a step in the next couple of races,” he said.
“It’s been a decent start. It’s gonna be a good few races to go and good to get experience here [at Monza] on how to manage tyres – It’s gonna be really hot [in the race].”
Despite a solid effort in qualifying, Colapinto’s first grid-setting session in F1 ended in the first section, even though he felt a Q2 appearance was possible.
On his final run, the Williams academy graduate ran wind at the exit of the second Lesmo corner, dipping two wheels in the gravel trap, ruining his lap and final opportunity to progress.
It was, however, a good save not to lose the back-end of his FW46 entirely, even if it was a costly error.
“I think I felt a little bit of understeer. It was quite on the limit, that lap, and I just dropped two tyres in that double curve, and I couldn’t catch it back,” said Colapinto.
“So just a little mistake that cost me a lot, maybe a chance of going into Q2. It was only one-tenth of a second, so it’s a pity, but it’s part of it, and I’m gonna get much stronger soon, I think.”
