How Franco Colapinto Can Secure His Alpine F1 Seat as Pierre Gasly’s Teammate

Franco Colapinto is back in a Formula 1 race seat this weekend at Imola, hoping to make a lasting impression at Alpine after stepping in during the 2025 season. The 21-year-old Argentine returned to F1 under very different circumstances than his first stint.

Last time, he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams, catching the team’s attention with solid simulator performances and a strong showing during a wet practice session at Silverstone. Now, Colapinto has been called up to Alpine as reserve driver, taking over from Jack Doohan after the Australian’s results in the first six rounds did not meet expectations.

Alpine’s new executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, has given Colapinto five races to prove himself before another performance review, with support from racing director Dave Greenwood and key team management.

Many F1 fans and experts think Colapinto is already in a good position to keep the seat, especially since Doohan never fully won over the Alpine leadership. Colapinto’s sponsorship from Argentina also plays a role, but his performance in the car will be critical if he wants to secure the spot next to Pierre Gasly for the long run.

Alpine currently sits ninth in the constructors’ standings, a disappointing place given the potential of their car. The midfield battle is closer than ever, with teams from sixth to tenth fighting for single points, often splitting positions by just hundredths of a second in qualifying sessions. For more details on how F1 standings are calculated, you can refer to the official FIA regulations.

Colapinto’s task is clear: he must match Gasly as closely as possible and look for chances to score points if the Alpine package is competitive on a given weekend.

In 2024, he quickly made headlines with Williams, finishing 12th at Monza on debut. He then collected four points with an eighth-place finish in Baku, plus another point in Austin.

He knows that in the current F1 landscape, breaking into the points is far from guaranteed, especially when grid position and minor details can mean the difference between advancing or dropping out early in qualifying. For a deeper dive into F1 qualifying formats, check out this explainer from Formula 1.

One challenge for Colapinto will be learning from Doohan’s missteps and his own previous mistakes. Doohan’s rookie season was plagued by costly errors such as his crash during Suzuka practice.

Colapinto also had trouble in Brazil and Las Vegas, with high-profile accidents that affected his momentum. He has since built experience with additional simulator work and private test sessions in older Alpine cars, preparing himself better than during his Williams run.

The experience of a turbulent but eye-opening rookie campaign could help him handle the demands and pressure, especially with the heightened media attention back home in Argentina. To understand more about the pressures of F1 rookies, Motorsport.com’s analysis provides valuable insights.

Expectations are balanced, as it would be unfair to demand regular points from Colapinto while Alpine continues to fight for every position in the midfield. His primary goal will be to consistently shadow Gasly and avoid major mistakes, proving stability and competitiveness over his five-race trial.

With the team set to re-evaluate between the Austria and Silverstone rounds, every session counts for Colapinto as Alpine looks to maximize their potential this season.

The Formula 1 field remains tight, but Colapinto’s talent and fresh perspective may deliver what Alpine needs. If he delivers steady performances and avoids unforced errors, Colapinto could become Pierre Gasly’s long-term teammate, giving Alpine a stronger foundation for future success.

The coming weeks will show if the Argentine can turn this opportunity into a permanent place on the F1 grid. Meanwhile, his progress will be closely followed, much like other competitive racing stories such as the Crew of the Year contenders in drag racing.

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.