Alpine changes its test schedule and lets its future Formula 1 regular driver Franco Colapinto do a few practice laps in Zandvoort
Franco Colapinto and Alpine are leaving nothing to chance in their preparations for the 2025 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola: The Argentine took a test drive in Zandvoort this week, driving a two-year-old Alpine Formula 1 car to get in the mood for his comeback.
Colapinto was confirmed on Wednesday (May 7) as Jack Doohan’s direct replacement, but only for the next five race weekends. Alpine will then reevaluate how to fill the second Formula 1 cockpit alongside Pierre Gasly.
For now, however, Colapinto is symbolically in pole position, as demonstrated by the Zandvoort test: Paul Aron, another Alpine reserve driver, was originally scheduled to take part in this test. However, now that Colapinto has been promoted to regular driver internally, Alpine is likely to have adjusted its test schedule for the 2023 A523 accordingly.
Colapinto believes he is “as well prepared as possible”
Colapinto has already completed several test drives in Alpine cars. That was the stated goal of his move from Williams to Alpine: to gain more driving experience and perhaps get the chance to return to Formula 1 as a regular driver. Both of these goals will now be fulfilled at the race weekend in Imola.
In parallel with his test drives, Colapinto has been closely involved in the Formula 1 racing team’s operations over the past weeks and months, including as a simulator driver at the factory in Enstone, England. From there, he supported Alpine’s regular drivers Doohan and Gasly in their setup work.
“Thanks to this test program and the simulator, I am as well prepared as I can be,” said Colapinto on his promotion to regular driver. ”I will do my best to settle in quickly and give my all alongside Pierre to achieve the best possible results.”
So far in the 2025 Formula 1 season, however, Alpine has had little cause for celebration: the team has scored points in only two of six race weekends and is second to last in the championship standings with seven points. Gasly has scored all seven points for Alpine, while Doohan has come away empty-handed.
