Regardless of whether it's Franco Colapinto or VCARB, the Argentine will be Red Bull's “number two” next season when he is alongside Max Verstappen.

No waiting time! He will remain a Williams driver as Christian Horner's conversation with James Vowles in the Williams Hospitality area on Friday was about Carlos Sainz, not the super sub.

The crazy Formula 1 season was a bit crazy in Brazil

Additionally, Colapinto will be joined in F1 2025 by fellow Formula 2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who has signed a “final” deal with Sauber.

These are the rumors that have been doing the rounds over the last 24 hours as Formula 1's silly season begins with the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

As it looks increasingly likely that Sergio Perez will lose his seat at Red Bull at the end of the season, Red Bull finds itself in the middle of a game of driver Jenga, debating who to remove and who to keep.

Having already dropped Daniel Ricciardo after the Australian racer failed to snag Perez's Red Bull, Red Bull is courting Liam Lawson, who has impressed so far.

He scored a point on his return at the United States Grand Prix, got the better of Perez in Mexico before clashing with the Mexican driver, and will start eighth on the grid for Saturday's sprint in Brazil. That's five places ahead of Perez.

While it has been said that his audition will determine Perez's fate as, if he is good enough, he will take the under-fire driver's Red Bull seat, it could also impact Colapinto's future as the Williams driver would then take the VCARB seat.

A rumor doing the rounds in Interlagos is that he has already signed. However, another claims that he did sign, but he signed for Red Bull and not VCARB.

According to former Argentine racing driver Rubén Daray, who broke the news that Colapinto would replace Logan Sargeant at Williams, Colapinto is “already Red Bull's number two driver for 2025.”

Fuel was added to the VCARB/Red Bull fire when Horner was seen leaving Williams Hospital in Interlagos on Friday. Williams team boss James Vowles was asked about this in Friday's press conference and confirmed that Williams is “actively working with the teams” to find a race seat for Colapin in 2025.

But then came the twist in the story…

According to Brazilian journalist Orlando Ríos, Horner has not spoken to Vowles about Colapinto, he wants Carlos Sainz as Verstappen's teammate. Colapinto would then remain at Williams as Alex Albon's teammate.

Red Bull was reportedly in the race to sign Sainz earlier this season as it looked for a new team for 2025 after he was dropped by Ferrari but pulled out due to tensions between Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Snr. decided against putting him in the car. when her sons drove for Toro Rosso.

But when Sainz signed with Williams, there were rumors that there was a clause in his contract that said he could leave Williams before even driving a single lap for the Grove team if Mercedes or Red Bull came knocking . Williams denied this.

But wait, there's more!

Three rookies have signed for F1 2025, but could there be more?

👉F1 2025 driver line-up: Who has already been confirmed for the 2025 grid?

👉F1 2026 driver line-up: Lewis Hamilton and other drivers already confirmed for 2026

After McLaren confirmed they are ready to say goodbye to young driver Gabriel Bortoleto so he can find a place on the grid next year, Auto Motor und Sport claims it is “done”: the Brazilian will partner next season by Nico Hulkenberg.

The German publication claims the contract is “firm” and the announcement is “imminent”, but Sauber decided against awarding it in Brazil for fear of a “media storm” as Bortoleto is Brazilian.

Of course, none of this has been confirmed, but watch this space…

Read more: Christian Horner gives the latest 'underperforming' update on Sergio Perez as Colapinto rumors swirl