P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“He’s fast, but he’s also a crasher. So, which Franco will we get? It’s always a toss of the dice. You just don’t know.”
1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has expressed reservations about Franco Colapinto’s ability to be fast without crashing as he takes over Jack Doohan’s Alpine seat for the next five races.
Alpine announced Colapinto as Doohan’s replacement following the Miami Grand Prix.
Colapinto, who joined Alpine earlier this year as a test and reserve driver, had an outstanding nine-race stint at Williams last year.
The young driver showed outstanding pace but made high-profile mistakes towards the end of the 2024 season.
With five races ahead to prove himself, including this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Colapinto faces the challenge of balancing speed with reliability.
Alpine’s decision to swap drivers mid-season focuses on Colapinto’s need to deliver consistent performances and score points for the team as he navigates this European triple-header.
