Franco Colapinto, the highly-rated Formula 1 prospect from Argentina, has made a high-profile move from Williams to Alpine, with his reported transfer fee now leaking into the public eye. Colapinto, 21, joined Williams in August 2024, stepping in for Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the season. His impressive performances, where he accumulated five points and finished 19th in the driver standings, quickly caught the attention of F1 teams.
Despite speculation linking Colapinto to Red Bull, the team opted for Liam Lawson instead. However, Alpine secured his services as their new reserve driver for the 2025 season, marking a significant shift in his career.
In a statement, Alpine confirmed that Colapinto had signed a multi-year deal with the team to take up the role of Test and Reserve Driver. The move strengthens Alpine’s talent pool as they look to build a competitive lineup for the upcoming F1 season.
Colapinto’s transfer fee has also caught the public’s attention. Rumors suggest that Alpine paid €10 million to Williams to bring the young driver into their fold. This substantial fee has raised questions about the potential pressure on rookie Jack Doohan, who will have Colapinto pushing for a seat in the main driver lineup.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, recently addressed the rumors surrounding Doohan’s future, emphasizing that the 2025 F1 season will begin with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan as the primary drivers, but things could change as the season progresses. Briatore also emphasized that results are paramount in F1, stating that if a driver isn’t performing, changes would be made, reinforcing the highly competitive nature of the sport.
With the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16 marking the start of the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Colapinto’s debut with Alpine and the growing pressure on Doohan.
