Franco Colapinto is looming larger. The Argentine could potentially become Alpine’s race driver from the Imola Grand Prix.
Jack Doohan appears increasingly likely to give up his Alpine seat, which he has held for the first six rounds of the season, to Franco Colapinto. No official announcements have been made, but according to reports that emerged in Miami last night, the team seems to be leaning in that direction.
The outcome of the Grand Prix did little to help Doohan’s case, as his race ended shortly after the start due to contact in the first corner with Liam Lawson—a move initiated by the Australian. While his performance has been improving steadily, what casts a shadow over his season is the number of errors he has made.
The most damaging incident occurred during the second free practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he destroyed the car—an error that followed an off-track excursion in Melbourne, again right after the race start. Signs of progress were evident in Miami, where he outqualified teammate Pierre Gasly, but Doohan remains at zero points in the overall standings. This is a crucial detail in Alpine’s season, as the team currently sits ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, just one point behind Racing Bulls and six behind Aston Martin.
Rumours about a possible Franco Colapinto appearance at Imola began circulating at the start of the weekend. Horacio Marin, CEO of the oil company YPF (affiliated with the ENI Group), inadvertently revealed during a live interview in Argentina that Colapinto would be racing as a starter at the Imola Grand Prix. The revelation caused a stir among the Argentine driver’s large fan base, prompting Marin to clarify later that he had only expressed a personal opinion. Last night, more reports surfaced suggesting that Alpine may be organising a test at Silverstone to help Franco Colapinto prepare thoroughly for the Imola weekend.
For Franco Colapinto, this would mark a return as a full-time driver after the nine Grands Prix he contested last year with Williams, during which he scored an eighth-place finish in Baku and a tenth in Austin. The Argentine was also involved in heavy crashes in Las Vegas and Brazil, but still managed to reignite interest in Formula 1 in his home country. His move from Williams to Alpine—where he has so far served as third driver—initially looked like a step toward a 2026 full-time campaign, but Doohan’s confirmation kept him on the bench. Now, the opportunity he’s been waiting for over the past three months might finally arrive.
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