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Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher and newly appointed Williams rookie Franco Colapinto fall into the category of “good race drivers but not special” says Williams team boss James Vowles.
Vowles explainedg to media why he had decided not to take Schumacher to replace fired Logan Sargeant at Williams. The British team announced on Tuesday that Argentine F2 driver Franco Colapinto would replace Sargeant for the remaining nine races of the season, starting this weekend with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Schumacher, son of seven-times F1 world champion Michael and now seeking a way back after losing his seat at Haas, was one of three candidates for the seat along with Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson.
Vowles told reporters: “With Liam, the contractual sort of position of Red Bull wouldn’t have worked with me here at Williams, so that didn’t become an option for us. Mick has improved a lot from where he was in Haas, there’s no doubt about it… all advocates, if you speak to them, will tell you where he’s adapted and where he’s changed.”
Vowles: Mick isn’t special
Explaining the unexpected decision, Vowles said the Mercedes-powered team had opted ultimately to promote Colapinto from their academy as a driver with many laps in the simulator and who had driven the current car, rather than looking outside.
“I think both (Schumacher and Colapinto) would fall into a category of ‘good and not special.’ I think we have to be straightforward about this. Mick isn’t special, he would just be good,” Vowles added.
“I think he would come with a lot more experience than Franco does but… Williams has always invested in new generations of drivers and youth,” said Vowles, pointing out Colapinto had a future as reserve and simulator driver at a team with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz confirmed for 2025.
The Williams team boss said he made the decision to drop Sargeant on Monday, the day after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Sargeant, without a point all season, crashed heavily in final practice and missed qualifying but Vowles said the decision was made on performance rather than a single incident. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
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