Franco Colapinto in awe of £19m-a-year F1 driver who can cope with more physical ‘strain’ than anyone else

Franco Colapinto is hoping to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2025. The Alpine reserve driver is putting intense pressure on Jack Doohan.

Colapinto comfortably outpaced Paul Aron in a recent Alpine test, strengthening his case. Meanwhile, Doohan crashed heavily in Japanese Grand Prix practice and went on to finish the race in 15th place.

There’s a theory that Colapinto will return to F1 at the Miami Grand Prix following the culmination of Doohan’s short-term contract. That still gives the Australian two races to win Alpine over.

Colapinto became the youngest driver on the grid when he replaced Logan Sargeant midway through the 2024 season. But should he make a comeback, he’ll be bumped down to fifth in the leaderboard.

Following an influx of rookies, Kimi Antonelli (18), Oliver Bearman (19), Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto (20) all leapfrog 21-year-old Colapinto. There’s an unusual age spread on the grid, with Williams’ Carlos Sainz the only driver between 30 and 36.

Franco Colapinto believes Fernando Alonso is still the best athlete in F1

Speaking on The Nude Project YouTube channel, Colapinto marvelled at Fernando Alonso’s longevity. At the end of last year, the Spaniard became the first driver ever to hit 400 race starts.

Alonso, who made his debut in 2001 and has only missed three seasons since, will be nudging 450 races by the time his Aston Martin contract expires. Even though he’s 43 years old, Colapinto believes he’s still ‘physically better’ than all of his rivals.

To back him up, Gabriel Bortoleto says Alonso has one of the best physiques in F1. He hasn’t given up on winning a third world title 20 years after his first.

Even if given the opportunity, Colapinto says he wouldn’t want to race for as long as Alonso. He explained that it carries an enormous physical and mental strain.

“What impresses me about Fernando is that he drives very well, he’s at the same level as the 25-year-olds, and he improves year after year,” he said. “You see him, and he’s physically better than all of us.

“I don’t see myself [racing that long]. You have to really love Formula 1 to spend so many years in a sport that is so demanding and puts so much strain on the body.

“In the end, a year of Formula 1 is 24 races, 24 weekends traveling around the world, and it burns your brain. To be at his level after so much time is very admirable.”

Aston Martin could do the unthinkable amid interest in Max Verstappen

Alonso has yet to score a point in 2025, but did climb off the foot of the championship as he saw the chequered flag for the first time in Japan.

In a damning indictment of Aston Martin’s performance, Alonso called 11th place ‘a small miracle’. He now leads Lance Stroll 3-0 in the Grand Prix qualifying head-to-head.

A dilemma potentially looms for Aston as they pursue Max Verstappen. Alonso is a legendary driver but Stroll is the son of team owner Lawrence.

However, Aston Martin aren’t considering axing Alonso at this stage. That raises the possibility that they will do the hitherto unthinkable and move Stroll aside instead, depending on the Spaniard’s individual plans.