Franco Colapinto Steps In as New Driver for Alpine F1 Team

After a challenging start to his Formula 1 career, Australian racer Jack Doohan has been replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto at the Alpine F1 team. This change will see Colapinto race for the French team from F1’s next outing at Imola, for at least five rounds.

The Rise of Franco Colapinto: From Karting to Formula 3

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 27, 2003, Colapinto began his racing journey at the tender age of 10 with karting. He honed his skills in his home country until 2017 when he made the move to Europe. In 2018, Colapinto’s karting career culminated in victory at the Youth Summer Olympics, marking the end of his time in karts.

That same year, Colapinto made his debut in the F4 Spanish Championship with Drivex School. He finished ninth in his first season and went on to win the series the following year. For 2020, he took another step up the racing ladder with a move to Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series, finishing third overall in both series.

Budget constraints forced Colapinto to switch to sportscars in 2021, entering the Asian and European Le Mans Series, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, this didn’t last long, and he contested his first Formula 3 season in 2022 with Van Amersfoort Racing. His debut season yielded two race wins and a ninth-place finish, earning him a spot as a Williams Academy driver for 2023.

A move to MP Motorsport in F3 followed, where he secured two more race wins and a fourth-place finish overall, which promoted him to Formula 2 for the following season. Colapinto also had his first taste of F1 machinery at a post-season test in Abu Dhabi in 2023.

Colapinto’s F2 Career and Promotion to Alpine F1 Team

Colapinto’s F2 career got off to a slow start in 2024, but his fortunes turned around following an in-season test in Spain. He then picked up his first win in the sprint race at Imola and became a regular challenger at the front. Williams continued Colapinto’s preparations for F1, and he completed FP1 at the 2024 British Grand Prix.

Soon, he was given the Williams seat full-time after the Grove-based team decided to part ways with American racer Sargeant. This gave Colapinto nine races to prove himself at , which he did with a best finish of eighth at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Rumours of a move to the Red Bull camp for the 2025 season circulated, but inexperience showed with a pair of violent crashes in Las Vegas and Brazil, putting Red Bull off his scent. The 21-year-old was subsequently signed by Alpine as a reserve driver for the 2025 season.

Colapinto’s time at Alpine will officially begin from F1’s next outing at Imola, marking an exciting new chapter in his racing career. With his impressive track record and determination, fans are eager to see what he can achieve with the French team.