F1: this will be Franco Colapinto’s work at Alpine

While waiting for a chance as a starter, from his reserve position he will carry out private tests, spin in the simulator and be in the Grand Prix.

First point. In practice, Franco Colapinto’s work at Alpine, his new team, will not differ much from what Williams had in the pipeline for the Argentine in 2025. In the Grove team he was going to be the reserve pilot, the same position he will occupy in the French armies. Second point. In theory, he has many more chances of finding a starting position next season in Enstone’s team than he could have behind two star figures like Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Of course, while you wait for that opportunity, your task will be similar in general terms.

Colapinto will test hours and hours in the Alpine simulator at the Enstone base, a task well known to the Buenos Aires native during his time at Williams. In addition, an addition: you will have the chance to carry out private tests with cars that are at least two years old, as established by the Formula 1 regulations. These TPCs, by their acronym in English which means tests with previous cars, They were widely used, for example, by Jack Doohan in 2024 to achieve ownership in 2025. Mercedes-Benz did the same with the young man Kimi Antonelli, designated by the Silver Arrows as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for this year. At Williams they did not have the scaffolding prepared for this work last season and they will only have it ready this year. One fact: in addition to the old chassis, a whole team of mechanics is needed to organize the work and logistics.

For this year, the F1 regulations allow 20 days of testing, with no mileage limit, with old cars for rookie drivers or those who are not part of the championship. Colapinto enters the second item, who will be able to ride with an Alpine from 2023 back. For runners registered as starters, these TPC are reduced to 1,000 kilometers and four days. The tracks to be used for the tests must be those that appear within the World Championship agenda of the current or previous season, with one fact: a circuit that the category is going to visit within the next 60 days cannot be used.

The championship will begin on March 16 in Australia and Alpine has three reserve drivers on the list. In addition to Franco, they are also part of the team the Estonian Paul Aron (third in the 2024 Formula 2 tournament) and the Japanese Ryo Hirakawa (Toyota representative in the WEC). The 30-year-old runner from Hiroshima was also announced yesterday as a reserve for the French team and his goal is to become a starter. It is known that it will be part of the first free practice of the Japanese GP. In the Endurance World Championship, he shares the Toyota with Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley (two former Formula 1 drivers) and is usually the slowest of the crew. It is still not clear which Grand Prix Colapinto will go to as a reserve, while he prepares while waiting for the opportunity to be a starter to arise. Rumors suggest that in Miami he would have a chance to be on the grid, regardless of Doohan’s performance.