Far from being just a rookie, Colapinto has demonstrated a talent that even Verstappen has acknowledged. At a press conference in Brazil, the Dutchman praised the Argentine, stating: “He deserves a place in Formula 1 with what he’s already shown.” These words came at a time of speculation about Colapinto’s future, who, after shining with Williams in 2024, has joined Alpine for 2025. Verstappen also defended Colapinto after his crash in Las Vegas, criticizing the “experts” who questioned the difficulty of driving in F1: “They should keep their mouths shut. Everything you do at the limit is not easy.”