Red Bull’s surprise link to signing Franco Colapinto is the latest twist in the Formula 1 driver market – but would it work?

The momentum of 2021 launched Red Bull—but most particularly its wunderkind Verstappen—into a new era of dominance that threatened to bore viewers and undo all of the hard-earned popularity Formula 1 had gained after millions of lockdown-bound viewers tuned into Netflix’s Drive to Survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Williams are likely to spend the rest of 2024 negotiating with rival teams about their interest Franco Colapinto. Red Bull and Alpine have already enquired about the 21-year-old’s availability, with talks advanced taking place in the background.

Franco Colapinto’s rapid rise in Formula 1 has sparked major interest from teams like Red Bull and Alpine. Currently with Williams, Colapinto’s impressive performances have led Williams to double his price tag,