Franco Colapinto is already on notice after his difficult debut for Alpine at Imola, after Jack Doohan’s replacement crashed in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Argentine also only finished the race in 16th place, the same position in which Colapinto started the Emilia Romagna GP after crashing in Q2 before posting a lap time. It was far from the ideal start to his time at Alpine, with Colapinto confirmed in the seat for just five rounds.
Executive adviser Flavio Briatore promoted Colapinto from his reserve driver role to replace Doohan after the Australian failed to get a point in the first six rounds of the year. Yet Alpine only gave Colapinto a five-round deal with another review due before the British Grand Prix.
Drama has already engulfed the 21-year-old’s time in Enstone, as well, and many Alpine fans urged Briatore to bring Doohan back after Colapinto’s crash at Imola. But the Renault-owned team have another F1 driver in mind should they decide to replace Colapinto for Silverstone.
Alpine see Cadillac F1 target Mick Schumacher as a ‘low-maintenance’ replacement for Franco Colapinto
That is according to Express.de, which reports that Alpine are now reconsidering giving Mick Schumacher his return to Formula 1 should Briatore opt to replace Colapinto. Enstone chiefs snubbed the German to promote Doohan to replace Esteban Ocon, but he still has admirers.
READ MORE: Who is Mick Schumacher? All to know about Michael Schumacher’s son
So, Alpine are ‘suddenly’ seeing Schumacher as a credible candidate to partner Pierre Gasly in the event that Colapinto keeps crashing as the 26-year-old would be a ‘low-maintenance’ addition. Schumacher is also impressing with Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher has helped Alpine get two podium finishes in the first three rounds of the 2025 WEC season at Imola and Spa, with Jules Gounon and Frederic Makowiecki. Alpine have also invited Schumacher to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix where he hopes to keep a subtle presence.
His ties with the Renault-owned brand might also represent Schumacher’s most likely route back to F1 after entering 44 Grands Prix for Haas over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Cadillac are considering Schumacher for their F1 debut in 2026, but Sergio Perez is their No1 target.
Franco Colapinto knows his Alpine future is uncertain with Sergio Perez open to joining
Schumacher made his WEC debut with Alpine in 2024 and even secured their only Hypercar podium last year with P3 at Fuji. Now, his early results in 2025 have put the German back on Alpine’s F1 driver shortlist in case Colapinto does not deliver over his initial five-round deal.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know
The Argentine even knows his future is not certain, despite bringing multimillion-pound Latin American sponsors YPF and Mercado Libre to the team. Schumacher is also not the only one who might come in, as Colapinto knows Briatore could replace him at Alpine with Paul Aron.
Also, Alpine are open to signing Perez after one of his major backers, Carlos Slim Domit, met Briatore at the Miami Grand Prix to discuss the Mexican as a candidate. Perez is holding out on signing with Cadillac for Alpine or Mercedes, too, despite agreeing a contract with them.
