• Coelacanth
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    3 months ago

    I was the first to be surprised by the Colapinto choice as he doesn’t have a standout junior record, but thinking about it as a statement makes it make more sense. Vowles is signalling that Williams is not going to be a small team doing favours for others and giving free practice to the upcoming stars of Merc et al anymore. They want to become a big, proper team, and to do that they need to show value in their own academy to attract future prospects.

      • Microw@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Neither Albon nor Sainz is an RB junior – they were RB juniors.

      • Coelacanth
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        3 months ago

        Yes, that is their short term - employing the best two drivers available to them. Giving Colapinto the nod is a signal for the long term. You have to balance both, it’s not like the Williams academy is bursting at the seams with the 5 next Verstappens.