F1: Franco Colapinto moved from Williams to Alpine
The Argentine driver was hired by the French team, he will occupy a position as a reserve and will be Jack Doohan’s shadow at the start of the season. The financial contribution attracted Flavio Briatore, the man behind the agreement.
The news is summed up in five words: Franco Colapinto signed with Alpine. That is raw, cold and hard information. The Argentine driver left the Williams team and will move to the French team to occupy a position as a reserve of the starting duo that will make up Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan. Now, Behind the change of team for the Argentine there is a network of money, sponsors, chances of having a seat this season and a key name: Flavio Briatore.
In principle, Colapinto’s role compared to the one he was going to have at Williams will not change: he will be a reserve. Of course, his chances of having a chance to race in a Grand Prix next season were extremely remote in the English team, with a dream pairing composed of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Imagine that these runners stumble during the year and that Colapinto could become a starter as happened in 2024 to replace Logan Sargeant seem, to say the least, utopian. In Alpine the story is different. Because next to the very experienced Gasly (he closed 2024 with his A524 immaculate and without dents) there will be the rookie Doohan, the son Mick, five-time world motorcycling champion. The Australian will have the sword of Damocles from the beginning of the year, precisely in his home race, because at the slightest sign of weakness in performance, he will be pushed to the side to climb Colapinto. It seems unfair for the Gold Coast-born driver to have his replacement left behind when he is just starting out in F1 (he debuted in Abu Dhabi to replace the ejected Esteban Ocon and had a good performance) and the ideal would be to have the full support of his team. But that’s the way Formula 1a world in which there are barely 20 seats and in which you always have to perform to stay in your place. So things are, Doohan seems to have the reins of his destiny according to the performance he showsalthough there is a strong rumor that indicates that Colapinto will become a starter on the sixth date (May 4 in Miami) regardless of the Australian’s performance.
Alpine’s interest in Colapinto began after the Argentine’s first four races in 2024. The French had already announced Doohan as a starter just a week before the Italian GP, which marked the debut of the Pilar native. There A certain Flavio Briatore appeared, Alpine’s executive advisor since the middle of last year, an unscrupulous man, who commanded Michael Schumacher’s first two titles and Fernando Alonso’s two-time championship and who also purposely sent Nelsinho Piquet to crash in Singapore 2008, marking one of the biggest scandals in the history of the category. If there is one thing that matters little to the Italian, it is forms. And if anything matters to the Italian, it is business. And in Franco he saw a driver who, thanks to the great support of enormous companies (Globant and Mercado Libre, in the lead) can contribute significant sums of money to Alpine’s coffers. If we add to that the very good performance of Colapinto in the first races, the treat for Briatore became an object of desire. Then came the Argentine’s strong crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas and the story went cold. But at the end of the season the temperature rose again.
In Abu Dhabi, where the 2024 season ended, Briatore could be seen chatting with Colapinto and María Catarineu, his manager, in the paddock. Red Bull, which had also shown interest, had already withdrawn after Franco’s accidents and hearing about the money Williams wanted to free him. The thing is that the team led by James Vowles had signed a long-term contract with the South American and, to release him, wanted a good sum. Some pointed to $20 million. Briatore, old fox, smelled money and jumped headlong. Especially in times when Alpine, a brand that belongs to Renault, does not dance among millions. It is not in a severe economic crisis, but its current situation is fair. In fact, the same Italian recently came to the crossroads of the versions that marked the departure of the Rombo. Of course, the lack of competitiveness of its own engine led the Italian to close the Viry plant (where the drivers were developed), it was decided to lay off 300 people and from 2026 Alpine will be a Mercedes-Benz customer.
Briatore found companies that support Colapinto willing to unblock the contract with Williams and contribute to the French armies: an ideal combo. Furthermore, they arrive with a driver who showed the level to be among the ten in his first races, then overshadowed by serious accidents that were key to being left without a starting seat for 2025. One thing is clear: the Italian’s pulse will not tremble to run at one side to Doohan if he does not perform and raise Colapinto. And, maybe, even if there are results, I will also get it. Of course, in the future someone with a bigger wallet than Franco may appear and the equation would put the Argentine on the ropes.
In the negotiation there was a strong push from someone unexpected: Fernando Belasteguín. The Argentine was the best padel player for many years and was chosen by Colapinto as one of the three best athletes in the history of Argentina, along with Juan Manuel Fangio and Diego Maradona. When the driver named that podium back in September 2024, the choice of third was surprising. Maybe things are tied up a bit: Belasteguín was supported by Alpine during his campaign, he was in Monza in the French team’s box and made negotiations with the Rombo leadership to help Franco’s arrival. And if more connections are needed, the Argentine was champion of the Spanish F4 in 2019 with Fernando Alonso’s team, who won his two titles at the hands of… Briatore.
Colapinto’s confirmed move will not change the grid for the Australian GP on March 16. Paul Aron, third in F2 in 2024, and Ryo Hirakawa will complete the French reserve program. The Argentine will be in the cat flaps, although with different clothes: it will no longer be with Williams’ but with Alpine’s. Doohan will take off with the A525, but he knows that there is someone behind him with his helmet in his hand and gloves on. It will depend on the Australian’s progress for the future of the year. Or not. Behind is Briatore.
