Alpine have announced the signing of Franco Colapinto after reaching an agreement with F1 rivals Williams.

Colapinto joins Alpine as a test and reserve driver for the 2025 season having🌃 signed what has been described as being a "multi-year" deal. 

The 21-year-old Argentinian had b꧃een heavily linked with a move to Alpine over recent weeks. 

Colapinto made an immediate impres🐭sion in F1 when he was d🐈rafted in by Williams to replace the underperforming Logan Sargeant from last year's Italian Grand Prix. 

He reached Q3 and s🅠cored points in just his second race in Azerbaijan and his impressive early displays caught the attention oܫf the likes of Red Bull and Alpine. 

He fai🐈led to secure a full-time drive for 2025 after a series of late-season cra🀅shes took some of the shine off his performances, but Colapinto may have now secured a pathway back to the F1 grid. 

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One T👍eam," Colapinto said. "First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. 

"They turned my dre🐻♈am of racing in Formula One into reality, and I will always be grateful for that. Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour. A huge thank you to Luca [de Meo], Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for believing in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms. 

"I cannot wait to get started and see where this journey takes us. Also, a massive thank yo🎀u to all my sponsors and partners who stood by me through the challenges of the 2024 season."

Alpine ♕executive advisor Flavio Briatore said: “We are very pleased to come to an agreement with Williams Racing to sign Franco Colapinto. Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right no𓆉w. 

'It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula One grid last year caught🙈 many, me included, by surprꦗise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver. We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.”

Pressure on Doohan 

News of Colapinto's arrival at Alpine wi🐻ll heap early pressure on F1 rookie Jack Doohan.

D꧑oohan made his grand prix debut with Alpine at the season finale in Abu Dhabi f💧ollowing Esteban Ocon's premature exit and was signed to race alongside Pierre Gasly in 2025.

However, i💛t is understood Doohan only signed a short-term contract with Alpine, giving the French manufacturer an option to potentiall𝓀y make a driver change if required.

Securing Colapinto's services will provide Alpine with a known back-up if they ꦕdeem Doohan's e🌃arly performances to be unsatisfactory.