Franco Colapinto’s entrance into Formula 1 was as unexpected as it was impressive. Drafted by Williams to replace Logan Sargeant with eight races left in the season, the young Argentine seized the opportunity to showcase his talent.

However, despite his strong performances, his stint was never intended to last beyond the season, with Williams having already secured Carlos Sainz as Alexander Albon’s 2025 teammate.  

For some time, rumours linked him to Red Bull as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, but two big crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas hurt his chances. With this not working out, Colapinto began exploring other options to stay in F1.

One of those options could be Alpine as at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Colapinto was seen talking with the team’s advisor Flavio Briatore, sparking rumors that the team might be interested in him. 

Jack Doohan is currently set to drive alongside Pierre Gasly for Alpine in 2025, but there are whispers about a performance clause in Doohan’s contract that could allow for changes mid-season if needed.

At this point, Briatore has denied any immediate plans to replace Doohan but hinted that Alpine could consider Colapinto for 2026.

“I'm interested in any driver who is fast,” he told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport.

“[Franco] Colapinto surprised everyone, but we have contracts with [Pierre] Gasly, [Jack] Doohan and [Paul] Aron for next season.

“If there was an opportunity to get Colapinto for 2026, you have to think about it. Nevertheless, you always have to be careful when assessing drivers.

“In this sport, you quickly get hyped up after a good race. Then the price rises and suddenly we’re talking about 20 or 30 million dollars.

“The choice today is much greater than it used to be. Today, there are six to seven promising drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3.

“We want to concentrate on the good ones in our academy and no longer run around with a watering can.

“It will probably come down to three drivers: Aron, [Gabriele] Mini and [Victor] Martins.”

For now, Colapinto is left with no seat for the 2025 season, but his chances of getting back at some point in the future definitely remain high.