Alpine finally confirm: 'No Colapinto in 2025, but maybe after'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
For weeks now, It's been rumoured that Alpine has been trying to attract Franco Colapinto. The problem is, however, the fact that the team is already set for 2025 with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan. Flavio Briatore, Alpine's advisor, revealed that Colapinto has been an option in a conversation with Auto, Motor, und Sport. This wouldn't be for next year, but it could well be for 2026.
Speaking to the German medium, Briatore said he was interested in any fast driver, and Colapinto positively surprised him. "But we have contracts with Gasly, Doohan and [reserve driver Paul] Aron for next season. If there would be a possibility to bring in Colapinto for 2026, that is something to think about," the Italian said.
However, Briatore also stated that he does not want to rush things. After all, the veteran knows Formula 1 like no other. "In this sport, after a good race, you are quickly praised to the sky. Then the price goes up, and suddenly we are talking about $20 or $30 million [ransom]," said the consultant, who has seen that there is currently plenty of potential F1 talent running around in F2 and F3.
A limited number of Alpine drivers in the Academy:
"We want to concentrate on the good people in our Academy and stop recruiting drivers haphazardly. It will probably come down to having three drivers: Aron, [Gabriel] Mini and [Victor] Martins [in the Academy]." The Italian concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon