Franco Colapinto took his first laps in an Alpine Formula 1 car on Wednesday. The young Argentine made a splash last year when he took over Logan Sargeant‘s seat at Williams. However, the British racing team did not offer him a new contract, leading Colapinto to opt for a reserve role at Alpine. After an initial test in Barcelona, the question remains how long the 21-year-old driver will remain on the bench.
Advisor Flavio Briatore, who assumed a leading role within Alpine again in 2024, posted a striking video on his Instagram account on Wednesday. The footage shows Franco Colapinto climbing out of the A523 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. While Ferrari and McLaren were testing with new Pirelli tires, the Argentine reserve driver drove an Alpine car for the first time. Jack Doohan, who will make his official debut with the French racing team next year, was also in action.
Doohan versus Colapinto
It’s clear that Briatore wants to put Colapinto in the spotlight. Reportedly, the Italian businessman played a key role in signing the Argentine last year. Experts also expect that Colapinto is being groomed for a role as a regular driver. Briatore is reportedly not convinced by Jack Doohan. If the Australian disappoints in the first few races, he could be replaced without hesitation. The lap times of both drivers in Barcelona will therefore be extensively analyzed.
Jack Doohan Ready for Debut Season: ‘I Will Make My Mark in Formula 1’
As it stands, Jack Doohan has secured a spot on the grid alongside experienced Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. The 22-year-old son of motor racing legend Mick Doohan made his debut last year during the season finale in Abu Dhabi, although he did not advance beyond the fifteenth position on the grid. Colapinto has already driven in nine Grands Prix for Williams. He finished in the points twice, but a series of costly crashes in the last few race weekends led to a loss of interest from major top teams like Red Bull.
