By Joe Murphy
Franco Colapinto Joins Alpine as F1 Reserve Driver for 2025
Franco Colapinto has been signed by Alpine as one of their reserve drivers for the 2025 Formula 1 season under a multi-year contract. This move casts doubt on the future of rookie Jack Doohan, who made his F1 debut in 2024 but may be at risk further down the line.
The Argentine driver has joined Alpine after a promising start to his F1 career with Williams in 2024. Replacing Logan Sargeant midway through the season, Colapinto scored five points in the nine races he contested, showing his potential as a strong F1 contender. His performances caught the attention of Red Bull, with discussions regarding a potential seat at the team, but ultimately, no further action was taken.
Colapinto’s switch to Alpine strengthens the team’s reserve driver pool, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Doohan’s future. Doohan made his debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when Esteban Ocon’s contract was terminated early. There have been suggestions that Doohan’s contract could be short-term, making Colapinto’s signing a precautionary move by Alpine in case Doohan fails to deliver results early in 2025.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, expressed enthusiasm about the signing: “We are very pleased to reach an agreement with Williams Racing to bring Franco Colapinto to the team. He’s clearly one of the brightest young talents in motorsport right now. His rookie performances in F1 last year were impressive, and we’re confident he will be a valuable asset as we build our team for the future.”
Williams team principal James Vowles explained that they agreed to release Colapinto as it represented his best opportunity for securing a long-term race seat. “We are proud to have supported Franco in securing this opportunity,” Vowles said. “His time with Williams was memorable, and now, with a strong driver lineup for 2025, we believe this move to Alpine gives him the best chance for a race seat in the near future.”
In addition to Colapinto, Alpine has signed former Mercedes junior Paul Aron as another reserve driver after a strong performance in his rookie F2 season. Ryo Hirakawa, who previously worked with McLaren, has also joined Alpine’s reserve pool, contributing his expertise to the French team.
With these additions, Alpine has reinforced its reserve driver lineup as it looks to secure its future in Formula 1 while navigating the uncertainties around its current drivers.
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