F1 driver turns on his own team and then worries 'they're going to kill me'

Franco Colapinto has risked facing the wrath of ' bosses after publicly criticising the team.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a sensational 12 months, rising through the ranks to make his Formula One debut and be entrusted to replace Logan Sargeant, who was axed after a dismal run which concluded with an FP3 crash at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Colapinto was brought in to take his seat, with Williams team principal James Vowles seeing his faith in the youngster being quickly repaid on the track.

However, the driver's fairytale start to life in F1 may have hit its first bump after he hit out at the prices Williams charges for their merchandise. With polo shirts available for £59, t-shirts priced at £59 and jumpers valued at £81, the team has come under fire for their pricing.

Colapinto has even commented on how most merchandise is too expensive, joking that supporters should purchase fake items which are available online.

He told Corazon: "Williams set a price that not even Cristiano Ronaldo can buy. Then the Argentines go crazy and make them out of stock. They leave them without stock and then we're eating rice for two months, dude."

"Buy the fake stuff, the cheap ones," he laughed. However, it did not take Colapinto more than a couple of seconds to recognise that he may have made a glaring error in promoting fake merchandise which would therefore leave his team somewhat out of pocket.

He quickly responded: "Nothing. Better buy Williams stuff, buy Williams stuff! They're going to kill me, me promoting the fake stuff."

Colapinto will be hoping that his comments on merchandise are quickly brushed over by his bosses, especially after it was announced earlier this week that a 'Franco Colapinto range' would be launched imminently.

Vowles will be keen to ensure that Colapinto does his talking on the track going forward, especially after declaring that he did not regret axing Sargeant for the Argentine. He said: "If we'd done this at the beginning of the year, I don't think you'd see the Franco you have today. And I think there's quite a bit of preparation that we've been doing in the simulator and otherwise to get him to the region where he is now.

"In terms of that regret, I mean, deciding to take a driver out is one of the hardest things you can do in my position. And I had to make sure it was abundantly clear it was the right place."