P1racenews AI automatic summary:
With the news last week that Franco Colapinto has switched from Williams to Alpine for 2025 and beyond, he is poised to repeat his 2024 Formula 1 cameo.
Colapinto signed with the Williams Academy in 2023 and made his F1 debut a year and a half later at the Italian Grand Prix after a rookie campaign in Formula 2. His impressive performances quickly garnered attention, scoring points in Azerbaijan and finishing 10th in the United States GP. Despite drawing interest from fans and rival teams, including Red Bull, Colapinto knew his interim stint with Williams in 2024 would be temporary due to their multi-term deal with Carlos Sainz. As Red Bull considered other prospects, Alpine’s Flavio Briatore expressed interest in potentially signing Colapinto for 2026, depending on current commitments. Briatore also hinted at possible mid-season driver changes based on performance, emphasizing the importance of delivering results in Formula 1.
