Alpine has announced that Franco Colapinto has joined as a reserve driver for the F1 2025 season, signing a multi-year deal with the Enstone-based squad.

While Colapinto was unable to find a seat on the grid for the F1 2025 championship, the Argentinean has been confirmed as a reserve driver with Alpine.

Franco Colapinto signs multi-year deal with Alpine

Argentine racing driver Franco Colapinto has been signed by Alpine, with the 21-year-old taking up a role as reserve driver for the Enstone-based squad.

The announcement of his arrival was made on the same day as Alpine announced it has also secured the services of Le Mans 24 Hours winner and WEC Champion Ryo Hirakawa in a test and simulator driver role.

Colapinto has been closely linked with Alpine for several months, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore – as part of the triumvirate of the Alpine F1 team’s management – expressing interest in signing the Argentinean as a bidding war for his services emerged between Alpine and Red Bull.

However, Colapinto’s tougher run of form in late 2024 cooled interest, meaning he ended the season facing an uncertain future, despite having impressed the F1 community due to his immense speed being immediately apparent.

Speculation regarding his future continued over the winter shutdown, with that speculation focusing on Colapinto potentially joining Alpine as rumours about the future of Jack Doohan emerged.

Colapinto, together with his manager Maria Catarineu of Bullet Sports Management, was spotted by PlanetF1.com in a jovial conversation with Briatore before the trio quickly went their separate ways.

Doohan, a product of the Alpine Academy and managed by Briatore, is confirmed for F1 2025, having been signed ahead of last season’s Dutch Grand Prix – shortly after the arrival of Briatore and team boss Oli Oakes at the helm.

While the Australian will start the season with Alpine, he faces immediate pressure to perform – like with many F1 deals, Doohan’s future is understood to be contingent on performance and impressing a management team who had only just taken charge when he was signed.

Some speculation suggests Doohan’s contract only covers the first quarter of the season, with a possible opening for Colapinto to slot in after this should Doohan fail to hit the ground running.

Doohan got his chance to make his F1 debut in the F1 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi as Alpine swapped out Esteban Ocon for their 2025 race driver.

Starting from 20th, Doohan raced to 15th place, while teammate Pierre Gasly finished seventh to secure sixth place for Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship.

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