Challenging Alpine Drive to Strengthen Franco Colapinto

Franco Colapinto is gaining valuable experience during his first full Formula 2 season, even as Alpine has presented him with a string of difficult races in 2024. Driving for MP Motorsport under the Williams Driver Academy banner, Colapinto has faced varied results, but key figures at Williams believe that the challenges will help him grow as a driver.

While results have been mixed—Colapinto currently sits outside the top ten in the F2 standings after six rounds—the team sees every session as a learning opportunity. Alpine’s F2 outfit has experienced several highs and lows this year, including technical issues and race incidents that have affected Colapinto’s ability to score consistent points.

His best finish so far this season came during the Melbourne feature race, where he crossed the line in sixth place, earning eight points. Despite tough weekends at Imola and Barcelona, where he finished outside the points, the Argentinian driver is building important skills in racecraft, tire management, and working with engineers.

Williams team members are watching Colapinto closely, sharing that a “turbulent” year in a competitive series like F2 is not unusual for rookies. They cite strong qualifying performances and flashes of speed as evidence that Colapinto has potential for growth.

The team is particularly attentive to his ability to recover from setbacks, referencing how he bounced back from a lap-one collision in Jeddah to finish eleventh in the sprint, demonstrating resilience under pressure. Colapinto, aged 21 and already a race winner in Formula 3, made the jump to F2 with confidence, but adapting to the more powerful cars and complex race strategies remains a challenge.

So far in 2024, he has outqualified his teammate in three out of six weekends, and his work ethic is being praised by both Williams and MP Motorsport management. Team bosses note his improvement with data analysis and feedback, which are considered essential for advancement to the next level.

The combination of results, near-misses, and mechanical problems can be tough for any young driver, but Williams maintains that these experiences are integral to development. They stress that previous Williams juniors, such as Logan Sargeant, also had seasons in F2 where consistency was hard to find.

Team leaders point to Colapinto’s adaptability in new situations and commitment to fitness as signs he will emerge stronger. With the next F2 race coming up at Silverstone in July, Colapinto is focusing on making the most of each session and targeting points finishes to move up from his current position in the standings.

Williams staff are confident that by season’s end, the lessons from Alpine’s unpredictable campaign will set a strong foundation for his future, both in F2 and possibly in Formula 1. Colapinto’s journey through this challenging year will serve as an important stepping stone in his racing career, and Williams is keen to see how he handles the races ahead.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.