Franco Colapinto has officially joined Alpine from Williams as reserve driver, it was announced on Thursday evening. That puts the Argentine firmly in the frame for a 2025 seat.
Colapinto made his F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix at the end of the summer, having replaced Logan Sargeant. He went on to score five points in his nine-race stint.
Three heavy crashes at the Sao Paulo and Las Vegas Grands Prix saw his stock fall. Talk of a move to the Red Bull family died down, and he seemed set to watch on from the sidelines this year.
James Vowles had promised Colapinto an extensive testing programme, but that was unlikely to satisfy the 21-year-old. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have both signed multi-year deals, closing the door at Williams.
Alpine welcomed the Toyota-linked Ryo Hirakawa as one of their support drivers earlier on Thursday. They had already signed F2 high-flyer Paul Aron after his release from Mercedes.
But Colapinto appears to be more than a reserve driver. Instead, he’s effectively a third option for Flavio Briatore, should Pierre Gasly’s new teammate Jack Doohan struggle.
Alpine will respect Williams wishes by caring for Franco Colapinto
Colapinto’s accidents may have tested his relationship with his team behind the scenes. Williams are likely to breach the 2024 cost cap, though Sargeant and Albon are also partly to blame.
Some Williams were mechanics were crying after Colapinto crashed in Vegas. It had taken a marathon effort to repair the cars, and assemble the spares, following a brutal Sunday in Brazil.
But he still leaves with the best wishes of the Grove outfit. Writing on their official Instagram account, Williams said: “Gracias, Franco. From our Williams Driver Academy to a multiple point-scoring driver in Formula 1, it’s been a privilege to watch you grow. Take care of him @alpinef1team.”
That prompted a six-word response from their Formula 1 midfield rivals: “We’ll take good care of him.”
At first, Williams considered loaning out Colapinto so that he’d remain a long-term option for Vowles. But his move to Enstone represents a clean break.
That has likely necessitated a payment – Red Bull offered Williams £15.4m. But this will be, at least in part, offset by his sponsorships.
Liam Lawson has already explained why Franco Colapinto is attractive to F1 teams
Alpine are adamant that Doohan is their man for 2025, alongside Gasly. But Colapinto wouldn’t have joined if he didn’t spy an opportunity to unseat him.
If the Australian struggles in the early rounds, it’s not hard to predict how loud the noise will become. Reports have claimed Doohan only has a contract for six races, potentially facilitating a clean break.
It’s an extraordinary amount of pressure for a driver who’s only competed in one F1 race so far (the season finale in Abu Dhabi). But that will make a strong start all the more impressive.
Liam Lawson says Colapinto has an enormous following in Argentina, admitting his New Zealand fanbase is about ‘five percent’ of the size. His popularity has earned him commercial backing, and given his evident talent, he offers a compelling package.
