Franco Colapinto has joined Alpine as a test and reserve driver for the 2025 Formula One season after the team struck a deal to sign him from Williams. (More Sports News)
Alpine has maintained that Jack Doohan, who they named as Esteban Oc൩on’s replacement for 2025 at the end of August, is their race driver for the start 🦩of the season.
Colapinto burst onto the F1 scene last year when Williams drafted him in to replace Logan Sargeant from the Italian Grand Prix weekend back in Septe𝐆mber.
The Argentine impressed for Williams, scoring points in just his second start at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as well as finishing 🐼10th in Texas two races later.
Those displays put him on the radar of 🎐both Red Bull and Alpine, though the former's interest waned after three retirements in the final four races of the campaign.
Alpine's confirmation comes after adding Japane🎐se Ryo Hirakawa and Estonian Paul Aron to their ranks as reserve and test drivers.
Col൲apinto, Hirakawa and Aron will give Alpine plenty of back-up options behind their confirmed full-time 2025 driver line-up of Pierre Gasly and Doohan – the latter stepping up from his test, reserve and development role.
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Form൩ula One Team," began Colapinto. "First of all, I want to say 🧸thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi.
"They turned my dream of racing🐓 in Formula One into reality🅷, and I will always be grateful for that.
"Now, it♋ is time for a new chapter, a💟nd to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour.
"A huge thank you to Luca [de Meo], Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for b꧋elieving in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms. I cannot wait to get ⛦started and see where this journey takes us.
"Also, a masಌsive thank you to all my sponsors and partᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚners who stood by me through the challenges of the 2024 season.
"Your support made it all possible, and to my incredible fans in Argentina: ‘Muchas gracias!’ Your passion and encouragement mean the world to me. Let’s🌞 aim for even greater things in 2025 and beyond."
