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Franco Colapinto Is Back on the F1 Grid with Alpine
On May 7, Franco Colapinto was officially announced as Alpine’s race driver for the next five Formula 1 Grand Prix races, stepping in to replace Australian driver Jack Doohan. The 21-year-old Argentine will return to the highest level of motorsport at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, scheduled for May 18, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his F1 journey.
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After making a strong impression with his nine appearances for Williams in 2024, where he earned five points, Colapinto is back on the grid, this time with a team that seems ready to bet big on his potential.
With Oliver Oakes departing as team principal and Flavio Briatore stepping into an important leadership role, Alpine made a move that many fans were eagerly anticipating. Rumors had been swirling for weeks, especially after Colapinto was discreetly moved to England and kept under wraps. The announcement was finally revealed at 4 a.m. Argentina time via Alpine’s social media: “@FranColapinto will step up as race driver for the next five races.”
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The upcoming schedule is intense: after Imola, Colapinto will race in Monaco (May 23-25), Spain (May 30-June 1), Canada (June 13-15), and Austria (June 27-29). Each track presents a unique challenge, and each race is a new opportunity for him to demonstrate that he deserves a spot at the top.
The response in Argentina was immediate. Twitter went abuzz with fans sharing memes, celebratory messages, and pure excitement. Many shared that they’d be getting up early again to watch Formula 1, something they hadn’t done since Colapinto last raced. For a country that hasn’t consistently been in the F1 spotlight since the days of Carlos Reutemann, this is more than just about one driver, it’s a point of national pride, and Colapinto has reignited that passion.
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Franco Alejandro Colapinto, born in 2003 in Pilar, has been making waves in motorsports for a while now. He captured the Spanish F4 championship title back in 2019 and has since carved out a reputation for himself in various series, including the Toyota Racing Series, Eurocup Formula Renault, Asian Le Mans, FIA F3, and FIA F2. After joining the Williams Driver Academy in 2023, Colapinto began testing in F1. By 2024, he was racing full-time with Williams and made an immediate impact.
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His debut at Monza was solid, but it was in Baku where he really turned heads. He made it to Q3, qualified ninth, and finished eighth, earning his first points and becoming the first Argentine to do so since Reutemann in 1982. Sergio Pérez even complimented him during the Singapore Grand Prix for being “a difficult driver to pass,” showing that Colapinto had earned respect among the veterans. He continued to deliver solid performances in Austin and Mexico, where he impressed with his speed and racecraft despite some tough breaks.
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His 2024 season wrapped up with a mix of strong finishes, unfortunate accidents, and even a viral moment when he overtook Fernando Alonso in Austin, a move that scored him the “Overtake of the Month” award. By the year’s end, he had racked up five points in just nine races, garnering plenty of attention from fans and teams alike.
Now, with Alpine, Colapinto gets his second shot. This time, he’s coming in with more experience, more confidence, and more eyes on him. Argentina is watching. The F1 world is watching.
And if his past performances are anything to go by, Franco Colapinto is more than ready to shine again.
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