Franco Colapinto, a young Argentinian driver, will be racing for Alpine in Formula 1, replacing Jack Doohan. This will be his first time racing for the French team, and he will participate in the next five races starting with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
Doohan's underperformance and a series of accidents, including a significant crash during practice in Japan and a collision in Miami which resulted in a tire puncture and retirement after only one lap, led to his departure from Alpine.
Colapinto previously debuted in Formula 1 with Williams in 2024, scoring points in several races. He was Alpine's reserve driver and has been working extensively with their simulators.
Alpine is currently struggling in the championship, ranking ninth out of ten teams. Their lead driver, Pierre Gasly, has expressed frustration with the car's performance.
Flavio Briatore, a key advisor for Alpine, hinted at upcoming changes within the team, emphasizing their focus on fast drivers.
Oliver Oakes' resignation as team principal and Briatore's assumption of his duties further highlight the significant changes within Alpine.
Colapinto signed a multi-year contract with Alpine in January, making this transition a planned move.