Franco Colapinto’s F1 return has created one ‘quite incredible’ sight in the Imola paddock 

Franco Colapinto has returned to the Formula 1 grid as he replaces Jack Doohan at Alpine. Like his time at Williams, he joins mid-season at an Italian circuit.

The Argentine replaced Logan Sargeant from Monza onwards in 2024, scoring five points in nine races. Now, he has stepped into a race seat at Alpine for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Doohan failed to score points in the first six races of 2025.

Flavio Briatore, who will act as Alpine’s team principal after Oliver Oakes’ resignation, has been pushing to get the 21-year-old into the car since he signed him from Williams as a reserve driver. Doohan’s exit has granted his wish, but Colapinto is now in a high-pressure situation.

The Argentine only has a five-race deal at Alpine, with the team set to reassess their driver pool at the British GP. Juan Pablo Montoya thinks the decision is ‘strange’, considering Colapinto is being afforded less time in the A525 than Doohan was.

But even with a short-term deal, the 21-year-old is set to have a huge impact on Alpine. Doohan cannot compete with Colapinto’s commercial value, and that is already being felt at Imola.

Franco Colapinto has ‘quite incredible’ impact on F1 return as Imola paddock covered in Argentine flags

Colapinto is set to bring substantial backing to Alpine during his five races. He has amassed an incredible following during his short F1 career, gaining huge support from his home nation and sponsors in Argentina.

Media day on Thursday at Imola meant there were no fans in the paddock. However, journalists Ben Hunt and Filip Cleeren noticed that there were countless Argentine flags and football strips already on display.

Speaking via the Motorsport.com YouTube channel, Hunt and Cleeren discussed the ‘quite incredible’ impact Colapinto is having on the sport since his return.

Hunt said: “Interestingly, today is usually quiet. This is very quiet, but this is because there’s no fans here today, action starts on Friday.

“There’s still quite a lot of Argentine flags and football strips and it’s quite incredible the support that he has amassed in such a short space of time.”

Cleeren replied: “Yeah absolutely. It is a very Argentinian thing. I lived there for a while, so I’ve had some firsthand experience.

“Hugely passionate people, especially celebrating their sports heroes.”

READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know

Franco Colapinto is under immense pressure to stay on the F1 grid – Fernando Alonso disagrees

Stepping into the Alpine team, Colapinto has been told to perform ‘OK’ and he should do enough to keep his seat for the remainder of the season.

Fernando Alonso does not think Colapinto is under pressure on his F1 return, but that is hard to believe. Given Alpine’s history of parting ways with key staff and drivers, as evidenced by Doohan this year, the same could happen to the Argentine.

Nelson Piquet Jr says the ‘the whole world’ will target Colapinto if he cannot match teammate Pierre Gasly. In FP1 at Imola, the Argentine was 17th in the session, almost seven tenths off the pace of the Frenchman in sixth.

Of course, practice times are not much to go off, but Alpine will certainly want Colapinto closer to Gasly. Doohan had been matching the pace of his teammate in most race weekends, outqualifying him in Miami.

Colapinto ‘knows’ Briatore has lined up Paul Aron to replace him if he cannot deliver the results in the next five races. The Argentine must be on the ball straight away if he wants to keep his seat.