Franco Colapinto will make his Alpine Formula 1 debut at the upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, following the team's recent decision to step down Jack Doohan for the next five races.
As the 2025 championship battle intensifies with shifting standings and veteran racers fighting to stay ahead, Colapinto’s entry adds an unpredictable twist to the grid. With his arrival, questions arise with the rising star himself.
Who is Franco Colapinto, and what prompted Alpine to make such a bold mid-season switch?
MORE: Formula 1: The big questions to be answered at Imola
Who is Franco Colapinto?
Franco Colapinto is a 21-year-old Argentine racing driver.
Colapinto was born in Pilar, Bueno Aires, Argentina. He's also of Italian descent through his father, where he holds dual citizenship.
Colapinto began competitive kart racing at the age of nine, won his first title at the 2019 F4 Spanish Championship with Drivex. He then progressed to F3 in 2022 and graduated to F2 in 2023.
When did Franco Colapinto join F1?
Colapinto made his F1 debut with Williams at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, replacing Logan Sargeant for the remaining nine rounds of the 2024 season.
He is the first Argentine racer to compete in Formula 1 since Gastón Mazzacane in the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix.
At the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Colapinto qualified eighteenth and finished twelfth. In the following race in Azerbaijan, he qualified ninth and finished eighth. He became the first Argentine to score points in F1 since Carlos Reutemann at the 1982 South African Grand Prix.
Colapinto joined Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025.
Why did Alpine axe Doohan for Colapinto?
MORE: Where is Jack Doohan now? Why Australian rising star was axed by Alpine, and can he return to F1?
Doohan began the 2025 season with a difficult start, failing to score any points in the first six races. He is currently one of the four drivers yet to score this year—alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson, and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
In contrast, Colapinto has an impressive record during the nine-race stint with Williams in the second half of the 2024 F1 season, earning five points. His performance earned him a reserve driver role at Alpine for 2025.
Following Doohan’s performance, Alpine made the decision to sideline the 22-year-old Australian. The 21-year-old Argentine has been confirmed to drive for the next five Grand Prix, beginning with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Alpine Boss Flavio Briatore explained this arrangement in an official team statement, claiming that it is to assess all their drivers in order for the team to make the right decision for their 2026 lineup in the official team statement.
"Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races. With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up.
"We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do in order to maximise our ambitions next year.
"We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season. The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options."
For Colapinto, this five-race run is more than a temporary promotion, but a critical audition that could shape his long-term future in Formula 1. For Alpine, it’s a calculated move in a season where every race counts.
Franco Colapinto's performance in the 2024 F1
| Grand Prix | Qualifying Position | Race Finish | Points Scored |
| Italian GP | 18th | 12th | 0 |
| Azerbaijan GP | 9th | 8th | 4 |
| Singapore GP | 11th | 11th | 0 |
| United States GP | 17th | 10th | 1 |
| Mexico City GP | 16th | 12th | 0 |
| São Paulo GP | 19th | DNF | 0 |
| Las Vegas GP | 14th | 14th | 0 |
| Qatar GP | 19th | DNF | 0 |
| Abu Dhabi GP | 20th | DNF | 0 |
Overall, Colapinto scored a total of 5 points during his nine-race stint with Williams, finishing 19th in the 2024 F1 Drivers' Championship.
Alpine results so far in the 2025 F1
| Grand Prix | Points Scored |
| Australia GP | 0 |
| China GP | 0 |
| Japan GP | 0 |
| Bahrain GP | 6 |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 |
| Miami | 0 |
Alpine has faced a challenging start to the 2025 season, with only scoring 6 points for the team. With Colapinto replacing Doohan, this weekend brings unpredictable changes to the Alpine standings.