As the starting gun is set to go off for the F1 2025 season, buzzing in the air are the whispers of the notable presence of Franco Colapinto on the Alpine team’s roster. The Argentine will be at the ready for the team at the inaugural races in Australia and China, sources close to PlanetF1.com have revealed.
Colapinto’s rise in the F1 world was marked by an outstanding stint with Williams in the latter half of the previous season. His performance was so extraordinary that it led to him being roped in by Alpine as their reserve driver this January.
The Alpine team boasts of a versatile assembly of reserve drivers. Besides Colapinto, the lineup includes Estonia’s Paul Aron and Japanese racing sensation Ryo Hirakawa, who is backed by Toyota. Colapinto’s talent shone through as he managed to bag points in two out of the first four races he drove for Williams, stepping in for Logan Sargeant just before the Italian Grand Prix of the previous year. His skills behind the wheel intrigued several teams.
However, Williams had already firmed up their lineup for F1 2025 with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Given this, team principal James Vowles believes that Colapinto’s move to Alpine is his brightest opportunity to reclaim a race seat, potentially even in the upcoming season.
Speculation has been rife that Colapinto might step in for Jack Doohan mid-way through the F1 2025 campaign. Reports suggest that Doohan’s contract covers only the initial few races and his future participation is contingent upon his performance, like any other driver on the grid.
Doohan, who had his F1 debut one race earlier at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, will open the new season as Pierre Gasly’s partner at the Australian Grand Prix. However, PlanetF1.com has inside information that Colapinto will also be in Melbourne, ready to step in as Alpine’s reserve driver if the need arises.
Colapinto’s presence is expected at both the Australian GP and the subsequent race in China, while Aron will be aiding Alpine’s efforts from the team’s Enstone factory simulator. The two are set to switch roles for the later rounds with Alpine rotating their reserve drivers.
In further news, Alpine announced earlier this year that Hirakawa will be participating in the first practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, marking the third race of the F1 2025 season. Hirakawa, the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours champion with Toyota, made his first FP1 appearance last year for McLaren before representing Haas in the 2024 post-season test.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive adviser, and believed Doohan’s manager, has remained tight-lipped about the speculation surrounding Doohan’s possible replacement by Colapinto. When asked about Doohan’s future, Briatore nonchalantly checked his watch, cleverly dodging a direct answer.
Briatore insists that his focus is to assemble the best driver lineup for Alpine. He is open to considering Colapinto, Jack, or Paul for the job. He humorously dismissed the suggestion that Doohan’s season will be limited to the first five races, adding that his aim is to ensure the best drivers for the team, not to play the villain. His commendation of Gasly’s performance last year and the decision to let Jack race in Abu Dhabi for the experience underline his commitment to the team’s success.