In a stunning twist, Franco Colapinto has emerged as a hot commodity in the F1 driver market, with Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore reportedly pushing to bring the Argentine sensation onboard for 2025. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore has shifted focus toward Colapinto, despite Alpine’s prior commitment to Jack Doohan as their next big talent.
Rumors indicate that Briatore sees Colapinto, who burst onto the F1 scene mid-season with Williams, as the season’s breakout star. “It seems that Flavio Briatore wants to steal from the competition the Argentine Franco Colapinto, 21, the revelation of this part of the season,” reports Gazzetta. If Briatore’s interest materializes, Doohan’s position as Alpine’s hopeful reserve driver could be in jeopardy.
Initially eyeing Carlos Sainz, Alpine had hoped to partner him with Esteban Ocon. However, Sainz chose to join Williams, leaving Alpine to consider other options—and Colapinto’s rapid rise has made him a top target. Having already attracted the attention of Red Bull, where Christian Horner has openly praised the 21-year-old’s adaptability, Colapinto could now find himself at the center of a bidding war.
Red Bull is rumored to be evaluating options for replacing Sergio Perez, with Colapinto being one of the names under consideration. Should the Argentinian talent be tapped by either Alpine or Red Bull, the teams will face a steep price: Williams has reportedly set a €20 million fee for Colapinto’s release. With Williams committed to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, Colapinto’s path forward at the British team looks blocked, adding fuel to the fire for a potential transfer.
As Alpine, Red Bull, and possibly other teams weigh their options, Colapinto’s trajectory is one of the most exciting stories of the F1 season. Whether he lands at Alpine, Red Bull, or elsewhere, Colapinto’s future is poised to shake up the grid in 2025.
