Franco Colapinto Lands Another Major Role Just Days After Re...read more

Franco Colapinto Secures Second Major Role Days After Alpine F1 Promotion

Franco Colapinto’s rise through the Formula 1 ranks continues at pace, as the young Argentine has landed yet another high-profile role just days after being confirmed as Alpine’s race driver for the next five Grands Prix, stepping in for Jack Doohan.

Following a significant shake-up at Alpine, which saw Doohan return to a reserve role and Oliver Oakes exit as team principal, Colapinto now finds himself not only in a key F1 driving position but also serving as an official ambassador for Renault in his home country of Argentina. The 21-year-old announced the news via Instagram, expressing pride in representing a brand with deep personal and national ties.

“Happy to be an ambassador of Renault Argentina,” Colapinto wrote. “Ever since I was a child, my family had a Renault, and I feel it represents many of us Argentinians! I hope you like the new Renault Esprit Alpine!”

As Formula 1 heads to Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the spotlight is firmly on Colapinto, who will be lining up alongside Pierre Gasly in a revised Alpine driver lineup. The team is now being overseen by Flavio Briatore, who has returned to take on team principal duties following Oakes’ departure.

Colapinto’s elevation follows an impressive stint at the end of the 2024 season, where he ran nine strong races with Williams, showcasing his potential and composure. His performance caught the attention of Alpine, who brought him into their reserve program at the start of 2025.

Meanwhile, Doohan’s time in the main seat proved challenging, with a lack of points and a high-profile crash in Miami undermining his case. All seven of Alpine’s championship points so far have been scored by Gasly, making the decision to evaluate other options — including Colapinto — a strategic one as the team plans ahead for the 2026 regulation overhaul.

Briatore has emphasized that Colapinto’s promotion is part of a broader assessment of Alpine’s driver options before committing to a 2026 lineup. With sweeping changes to technical regulations looming, Alpine is aiming to position itself for a resurgence — one that could mirror Mercedes’ dominance in 2014 or Red Bull’s strong adaptation in 2022.

With recent high-profile departures like Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, and Esteban Ocon still fresh in memory, Alpine is eager to find stability and long-term performance in its driver roster. Whether Colapinto will be that solution remains to be seen, but his rapid ascent and growing list of responsibilities make him one of the most watched young talents on the grid.