Franco Colapinto Joins Alpine as Reserve Driver for 2025 Season
After impressing team boss James Vowles during a wet and challenging Silverstone FP1 session and simulator work, Argentine driver Franco Colapinto has been given the opportunity to race for Alpine in five races of the 2025 season. This follows his brief stint with Williams in the previous season.
The Circumstances Surrounding Colapinto’s Return
Unlike his first appearance on the F1 grid, this time it feels like a matter of when rather than if Colapino would return to racing, given that he was drafted as Alpine‘s reserve driver. Incumbent Jack Doohan didn’t perform up to expectations, making way for the more experienced and commercially attractive Colapinto.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has handed over most leadership duties after team boss Oliver Oakes’ resignation, with racing director Dave Greenwood and other key management members supporting him. An evaluation will take place between the Austria and Silverstone rounds to decide on Colapinto’s fate for the remainder of the 2025 season.
The Challenges Ahead for Colapinto
With Alpine struggling to score points despite having a car with decent potential, Colapinto will need to deliver impressive performances to secure his seat permanently. He must repeat his heroics from the 2024 season, where he scored four points in Baku and added another point in Austin after making his debut with a creditable 12th place at Monza.
The opening leg of the 2025 season has shown that scoring points is far from easy for any midfield outfit. Grid position will be crucial, as every detail makes the difference between advancing to Q3 and being eliminated in Q1. Colapinto must stay close to his teammate Pierre Gasly and wait for opportunities to score points on a given weekend.
Learning from Past Mistakes
Colapinto’s success will depend on avoiding the mistakes made by his predecessor Jack Doohan, who suffered from a series of costly errors during his rookie campaign. Colapinto must learn from these mistakes and focus on delivering consistent performances at Enstone.
Colapinto has been preparing for this opportunity by doing several TPC tests with an older Alpine car, ensuring he is well-prepared for his second chapter in F1. He will also need to manage the intense scrutiny and support he receives from Argentina, where he turned into an overnight celebrity after his 2024 debut.
Between managing expectations at home and at Enstone, Colapinto’s mission remains the same – block out the noise and shadow his teammate. He must stay focused and deliver consistent performances to secure a permanent seat with Alpine.
