Alpine F1 Team Faces Pressure: Will Franco Colapinto’s Future Hang in the Balance?

The 2024 Formula 1 season has been anything but smooth for the Alpine F1 Team. While Pierre Gasly, the team’s lead driver, has been putting in commendable performances, he alone cannot propel Alpine up the Constructors’ Championship standings. Despite Gasly’s 20 points, the team remains in dire need of a second driver who can consistently score points. Unfortunately, the team’s struggles to find a reliable second driver have been evident throughout the season.

The team’s lineup has seen instability, with Jack Doohan failing to impress in the first six races, and Franco Colapinto coming in as a replacement for the next eight races. Unfortunately for Alpine, Colapinto has been unable to break the points drought, leaving the team facing a serious dilemma. As if things couldn’t get worse, a massive crash during a recent private test has made Colapinto’s future even more uncertain. Here’s a closer look at what happened, what the future might hold for Alpine, and where they go from here.

The Struggles of Colapinto

Franco Colapinto’s journey with Alpine has been far from ideal. The 21-year-old Argentine’s career took a promising turn when he joined Alpine as a reserve driver after a brief but eye-catching stint with Williams. Early rumors suggested that Red Bull was interested in the young driver, but after his initial impressive performances, Colapinto’s momentum quickly stalled. His performances during his first five races were underwhelming, and by the end of 2024, it seemed like he would be without a seat for 2025.

This is where Alpine stepped in. The team saw potential in Colapinto and opted to offer him a chance to prove himself as a reserve driver. Reports suggest that Alpine paid over $10 million to Williams for Colapinto’s services—a hefty price for a driver who would only be a reserve at the time. This raised eyebrows across the F1 paddock. After all, $10 million is a lot of money for a driver not even racing.

Clearly, Alpine’s faith in Jack Doohan had waned, leading to Colapinto being brought into the fold. However, despite this investment and expectation, the Argentine’s performances haven’t lived up to the hype. After eight races with Alpine, Colapinto has failed to score a single point, with his best result being 13th. If you compare his performances to Doohan’s, Colapinto has actually underperformed, averaging a finishing position of 15.75 compared to Doohan’s 14.75.

F1 is notoriously brutal, and the pressure of replacing a rookie driver mid-season, particularly when you’re expected to outperform them, only adds to the stress. Colapinto’s job hasn’t been made any easier by the immense expectations that come with the hefty price tag attached to him. The rookie driver’s performances so far indicate that Alpine’s gamble may not be paying off, at least not yet.

The Crash at Hungaroring: Colapinto’s Worst Nightmare

Things took a dramatic turn during a private Pirelli tire test at the Hungaroring in early August. On the second day of testing, Colapinto was behind the wheel of the Alpine A525, preparing the car for the 2026 tire compounds. This final test session, a crucial step in tire development before the homologation process, was an essential opportunity for Pirelli to gather data. Unfortunately, Colapinto’s time behind the wheel ended in disaster.

During the morning session, the Argentine driver lost control of the car at Turn 11, one of the fastest corners on the circuit, and crashed. The incident resulted in the team not being able to repair the car in time for Pierre Gasly to take his turn on track, which caused further disruption to the testing schedule. Alpine’s official statement confirmed that Colapinto was assessed at the medical center and found to be okay, but the damage was done.

While a crash during a tire test may not necessarily spell the end of a driver’s career—after all, many high-profile drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, have been involved in crashes during test sessions—this incident adds yet another layer of pressure on Colapinto’s already fragile standing with Alpine. The team had hoped that this test would provide valuable data, but losing track time during a critical session was a setback that could make Colapinto’s position at the team even more precarious.

Pirelli, the tire supplier responsible for the test, distanced themselves from the accident, placing the blame entirely on Colapinto’s shoulders. Mario Isola, Pirelli’s motorsport boss, emphasized that the crash had nothing to do with the tires themselves but rather with Colapinto’s mistake. This sets a challenging tone for Colapinto’s future, as the incident is another negative mark on an already rocky season.

Alpine’s Options: A New Driver on the Horizon?

With Colapinto’s future in doubt, Alpine may look to make a change sooner rather than later. Team principal Laurent Rossi, alongside Flavio Briatore, has a difficult decision to make. The Italian motorsport boss has a history of making bold decisions when it comes to Alpine’s driver lineup. Briatore’s tendency to make swift driver changes has been evident in the past, and Colapinto’s failures could make him an immediate target for a swap.

Enter Paul Aron, a 21-year-old Estonian driver currently serving as Alpine’s reserve driver. Aron got his first taste of Formula 1 action during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend when he took part in the first free practice session. Though Aron’s time on track was limited to 30 minutes due to an engine issue, the session allowed him to showcase his abilities, and he could be seen as a potential replacement for Colapinto.

Aron has had a solid career in lower-tier categories, including F3 and F2, where he’s managed to finish in the top three on several occasions. While his results might not yet be enough to convince F1 teams that he’s ready for a full-time seat, his performances have not gone unnoticed, and he could very well step in if Alpine decides to make a change. However, this wouldn’t be an easy decision for the team to make, especially when considering other options, including potential moves from experienced drivers like Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

Bottas and Perez: Veteran Drivers on the Radar

If Alpine chooses to go in a different direction, there are a few big names being linked with the team. Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver who currently races for Alfa Romeo, has been rumored to be in talks with Alpine for a potential move. Bottas, with his vast experience and consistent performances, could bring the stability that Alpine is looking for. However, Bottas has also been linked with Cadillac, which is looking to enter F1 in the near future, and reports suggest that he may prefer a longer-term project rather than a short-term move to Alpine.

Similarly, Sergio Perez, who is currently on the brink of losing his seat at Red Bull, has also been mentioned as a possible replacement at Alpine. The Mexican driver’s experience at the top level of Formula 1 could provide Alpine with the consistent points they desperately need. However, like Bottas, Perez is reportedly eyeing a future with Cadillac, which complicates the situation further.

With both drivers having one eye on potential opportunities elsewhere, it’s uncertain whether either of them would be willing to take a short-term deal at Alpine. The situation with these veteran drivers remains fluid, and it will likely come down to which driver is willing to risk their future with a move to Alpine.

The Road Ahead for Alpine

As Alpine navigates this turbulent season, the team’s decision regarding its second driver will be critical. Whether they opt for a young talent like Paul Aron or bring in a more experienced driver like Bottas or Perez, one thing is certain: the team needs to find a reliable points scorer to partner Pierre Gasly. The pressure is mounting, and the next few months will likely determine whether Alpine can salvage their season or whether they’ll have to endure another frustrating year of underperformance.

As we await further developments, the question remains: Will Colapinto continue to fight for his seat, or will Alpine make the decision to move on before the summer break? Only time will tell, but with every passing race, the stakes get higher for the Argentinian driver.

Full Video: