Franco Colapinto becomes a case: Red Bull wants him, but Alpine is also interested. The rumors around Franco Colapinto's future intersect with other potential moves.

Williams’ Argentine driver is without a seat for 2025 despite his impressive performances with the FW46. Franco has caught the eye of Red Bull, with Marko wanting to place him at Racing Bulls, while Horner would prefer him in the main team. Meanwhile, Alpine is interested as well and could consider dropping Doohan.

The rumors around Franco Colapinto’s future intersect with other potential moves. His availability on the market has created a stir that could upend existing plans. Red Bull’s interest in the Argentine was confirmed by team executives during the Interlagos weekend, where Christian Horner met with Williams’ James Vowles, a meeting noted by those in the paddock.

Colapinto is undoubtedly an attractive prospect for Red Bull, but if Christian Horner and Helmut Marko manage to secure him from Williams, his placement is still undecided. According to sources during the Interlagos weekend, Marko sees Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s future teammate in 2025, following Liam Lawson’s strong return to F1 starting in Austin. In this scenario, a Racing Bulls seat would be available for Franco Colapinto, pairing him with Yuki Tsunoda.

According to rumors, Christian Horner’s plan differs. The team principal reportedly wants to promote Colapinto directly alongside Max Verstappen, meaning Lawson would start his first full F1 season with Racing Bulls.

Christian Horner is interested in this option to fully capitalize on Franco Colapinto’s burgeoning popularity, especially across Argentina and Central-South America. Ensuring him a Red Bull showcase would provide significant visibility, far greater than what Racing Bulls can offer. The move is not without risks, given Franco Colapinto’s limited experience, but this has rarely been a barrier for Red Bull, and his speed makes him a solid candidate.

Christian Horner’s view, however, doesn’t align with the goals of the Red Bull Junior Team, a program once thriving but now faltering. For Marko, promoting Liam Lawson would restore a pathway that, a decade ago, allowed the team to successfully draw from its academy, a program that comes with considerable costs.