Franco Colapinto is Alpine’s new reserve driver for the 2025 season. “The 21-year-old Argentinian will have a role as test and reserve driver (…). His arrival allows us to expand the talent pool from which the team will be able to draw for driving missions throughout the season,” underlined the French team in its press release, adding that Colapinto has signed a “multi-year” contract. without specifying the exact duration.
Extra pressure for Doohan
The young driver leaves the Williams team with which he took his first steps in F1, competing in the last nine Grands Prix of the 2024 season being preferred to Logan Sargeant. “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Williams Racing to sign Franco Colapinto,” said Flavio Briatore, executive advisor to Alpine. “Obviously, Franco is one of the best prospects in motorsport right now. “It’s fair to say that he surprised a lot of people, including me, when he appeared on the Formula 1 grid last year,” he continued.
“I can’t wait to get started and see where this adventure takes us,” said Colapinto, whose arrival should put a little more pressure on Jack Doohan, replacing Esteban Ocon. If the seat occupied by Frenchman Pierre Gasly seems untouchable, the arrival of Colapinto, who twice finished in the points in nine races, could threaten the starting place of the 21-year-old Australian for whom the first Grands Prix promise to be decisive.
