James Bowles: ''There's a chance that a team could take up the option of taking Collapinto''

Virtuosi Racing boss James Bowles reckons that there is a good chance that there is a great chance that Formula 3 frontrunner Franco Collapinto could step up to Formula 2 next year.

Collapinto, who took the runner-up spot in the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020, moved into F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing this year and impressed with regular points finishes, including a win at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Argentine driver is one of several highly-rated youngsters within the Mercedes junior programme and with Virtuosi running the works team in F2 next year, Bowles says that the door is open to Collapinto making a step up.

"Franco has had a good season this year. He made a couple of mistakes, which is normal for a rookie, especially when he was fighting for the championship in the middle of the season," Bowles told Autosport.

"But the speed was there, the pace was there. We've had a lot of discussions, it's still very early days, we're still talking. But at the same time, the door is open for him. It is very likely that he can make the step up to F2 next year."

Bowles added that with the new F2 cars debuting next year, it would be a good opportunity for newcomers to join the category.

"The cars are changing so dramatically next year with the new regulations, the new Dallara," he said. "In a way it gives an opportunity for a rookie to move up and not be too handicapped versus a driver who has done a season or two in F2 already."

Collapinto is currently sixth in the F3 standings with two races of the season remaining, and he trails championship leader Dennis Hauger by 55 points.