Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore has already made plenty of important decisions since joining the team earlier in the year.
When Briatore arrived at Alpine in June, they were fighting to avoid finishing bottom of the Constructors’ Championship with Williams and Sauber.
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were scrapping for every point possible and with each other at times.
Ocon colliding with Gasly in Monaco and just a few days later, his future was sealed.
The Frenchman has already made his debut for new team Haas during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, which left Gasly not knowing who his next teammate was going to be for some time.
Briatore played a role in Alpine’s new team principal Oliver Oakes being brought in from Formula 2 outfit Hitech later in the year as well.
In the end, Alpine decided to promote Jack Doohan from their junior program to race for the team in 2025.
He’s already made his F1 debut after Ocon was released prior to the final Grand Prix of the season, coming home in 15th and qualifying last.
However, Alpine’s line-up could have looked very different had Briatore acted more decisively in the driver’s market.
Flavio Briatore doesn’t rule out 2026 Alpine move for Franco Colapinto
Alpine have been linked with Franco Colapinto in recent months after his impressive cameo for Williams this season.
The Argentine has had his fair share of crashes but also generates millions in sponsorship income due to the huge interest in him from South America.
Briatore was being interviewed by Auto Motor und Sport and asked why he was interested in Colapinto and said: “ I’m interested in any driver who is fast. Colapinto surprised everyone.
“But we have contracts with Gasly, Doohan and Aron for next season.
“If there was an opportunity to get Colapinto for 2026, we would have to think about it.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know
“Nevertheless, you always have to be careful when assessing drivers. In this sport, you are quickly praised after a good race.
“Then the price goes up and we’re suddenly talking about 20 or 30 million dollars [£15.8m-£23.8m].
“But the choice is much bigger today than it used to be. Today, there are six or seven drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3 who are very promising.
“We want to concentrate on the good ones in our academy and stop using a watering can. It will probably end up being three drivers: Aron, Mini and Martins.”
Franco Colapinto could end up being 2025’s version of Liam Lawson
Colapinto was reportedly the subject of a £15.4m bid from Red Bull earlier in the year as they tried to figure out what to do with their driver pairings for next year.
Red Bull have now opted against signing Colapinto but that doesn’t mean Sergio Perez is likely to remain on the grid in 2025.
Alpine’s interest in Colapinto appears to be much more genuine.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats
Williams and Alpine may have agreed terms for Colapinto, although Doohan does appear to be their chosen second driver for 2025.
If that remains the case, then Colapinto will remain as Williams’ reserve driver for 2025.
Given there are so many rookies on the grid next season, whenever any of them make a mistake, it’s likely that the broadcast feed will suddenly cut to wherever Colapinto is in the paddock.
It’s the same treatment Liam Lawson got this season at RB, as whenever one of their drivers was in trouble, the Kiwi suddenly appeared on people’s screens.
