After much speculation, it finally happened. Alpine announced this afternoon a multi-year deal with Franco Colapinto, who will serve as the reserve driver for the Enstone-based team starting from the 2025 Formula 1 season.
This move had been anticipated for weeks, with Colapinto left without a seat after driving for Williams in the second half of the 2024 season to replace the underperforming Logan Sargeant.
The Argentine driver will not have a seat of his own but will step in if Pierre Gasly or Jack Doohan—the team’s designated main drivers for several months—are unavailable for a race weekend in the season starting in early March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
However, Franco Colapinto might not have to wait long for another opportunity to race as a main driver. While Pierre Gasly has a guaranteed contract and is firmly established as the team leader, Jack Doohan’s contract allows him to compete in only some of the initial races. To keep his seat, Doohan must prove himself and convince Alpine’s leadership to maintain their trust in him.
If he fails, Franco Colapinto will be ready to step in, bringing a Red Bull-like profile to the replacement rather than the usual blue-and-pink hues of the French team.
Following the announcement of his move to Alpine, Colapinto stated: “I’m truly happy to join the Alpine team. First, I want to thank Williams for all the support they have given me from the moment I joined their Academy to the last race we had together in Abu Dhabi. They made my dream of racing in Formula 1 come true. I will always be grateful to Williams.”
“Now it’s time for a new chapter for me and to embrace the new challenge with Alpine. It’s an honor for me. I thank Luca De Meo, Flavio Briatore, and Oliver Oakes for believing in me and welcoming me to the team with open arms. I can’t wait to get started and see where this new journey takes us together.”
“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with Williams Racing to secure Franco Colapinto,” said Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine. “It’s clear that Franco is one of the best young talents right now. It’s fair to say his debut in Formula 1 impressed many of us, myself included.”
“He surprised us with his impressive performances as a rookie. We are looking toward the future, and with this signing, we truly have a roster of young talents that can help us achieve success in the future.”
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Alpine for Franco to join the team under a multi-year deal starting in 2025,” said Williams Team Principal James Vowles. “In nine memorable races with Williams, he clearly demonstrated that he deserves a place in Formula 1, and we have always said we would support him in securing one. Williams boasts one of the strongest driver lineups on the grid for 2025 and beyond, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, so we believe this agreement with Alpine represents the best chance for Franco to secure a racing seat in 2025 or 2026.”
“The Williams Racing Driver Academy exists to discover and develop future F1 stars, which is exactly what it has done in Franco’s case, continuing our long tradition of giving talented young drivers the opportunity to rise to the highest levels of motorsport. We are proud to have brought Argentina back onto the F1 grid, and we thank Franco for everything he has brought to the team. We look forward to future battles on track.”
The South American is the second reserve driver announced today by Alpine. The team, led by Oliver Oakes, also revealed that Ryo Hirakawa will serve as a reserve driver and tester for the team in the 2025 season. The Japanese driver joins from McLaren, where he worked in the simulator.
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