Franco Colapinto’s transition into Formula 1 has been marked by ups and downs, but his performance in the 2024 season was enough to keep him in the spotlight, despite not initially being Williams’ first choice to replace Logan Sargeant. The Argentine driver was impressed with his strong performances toward the end of the season, which generated interest from top F1 teams for 2025, including Red Bull and Alpine.
However, despite early talks with these teams, the interest in Colapinto for a 2025 seat gradually cooled. Red Bull decided to promote Liam Lawson, who had already filled in for the departed Sergio Perez, and with Isack Hadjar likely lined up as Lawson’s replacement, Colapinto’s path to Red Bull was blocked. Alpine, on the other hand, already secured Jack Doohan for 2025, narrowing the options for Colapinto. Williams team principal James Vowles reportedly pushed for the 21-year-old to be on the grid for 2025, but a series of crashes raised concerns about his readiness for a full-time F1 seat, leading to his exclusion from next season’s lineup.
Despite missing out on a 2025 seat, Colapinto’s prospects are far from over. Flavio Briatore, who returned as an advisor to Alpine earlier in the season, has shown strong interest in bringing Colapinto on board for 2026. Although rumors suggested Colapinto might replace Doohan in 2025, it now seems that Doohan is set to fulfill his contract, leaving Colapinto a clear shot at Alpine in 2026. Additionally, with Paul Aron recently signed as Alpine’s reserve driver, the future of Colapinto’s F1 career could come down to whether Alpine opts for him over Aron.
Briatore’s continued interest in Colapinto, particularly during their meeting at the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, signals that the 21-year-old’s F1 journey is far from over. However, Colapinto’s prospects for 2025 remain limited, with only minimal test opportunities, while Doohan’s performances will be closely scrutinized as the season unfolds.
