Alpine F1 made sure to bring young Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto into its ranks. The one who had replaced the underperforming American Logan Sargeant at Williams at the end of the season, had made a remarkable debut and had become one of the names fueling the F1 transfer market.
Aged only 21, Colapinto had no chance of being able to run as a starter in 2025 before Flavio Briatore and Alpine sowed doubt on this assertion by signing, for five years it is said, the one who is elsewhere strongly supported by its South American sponsors and a new Argentine public (re)discovering a passion for Formula 1.
It was officially as a test and reserve driver that Colapinto signed with Alpine, but the duration of the contract and the sums paid by the Franco-English team to put it in place suggest that Briatore absolutely did not no intention of stopping there. The place of Jack Doohan, rookie with the contract to assist Pierre Gasly next season, replacing Esteban Ocon, already seems to be ejected and it is rumored that the young Australian would only have guarantees for a few races at the start of the season, before an inversion of seats is possible with Colapinto.
In any case, the Argentinian's management has made it known that it was with insistence and arguments that Alpine did everything to secure the services of its colt.
-“Il [Briatore] was the first interested party”, assured co-manager Maria Catarineu. “Actually, more or less at the same time as Red Bull. But Flavio said 'I want it and this way'. That's where it all started. And Flavio never lost his interest.”
“In the end, the Red Bull route, for different reasons, could not be chosen. First of all, because Red Bull has a lot of elements, it has a very powerful academy with drivers who were already waiting and , well, that didn’t work.”
“He is very, very happy”she continued about her pilot, whose ascent took place at lightning speed. “You have to know that until a few months ago we didn't know if we were ever going to do Formula 1. And then the nine races with Williams arrived.”
