The announcement arrived at the early hours of Wednesday and marked a milestone in Argentine motoring: Franco Colapinto will be a starting pilot of the Alpine team in Formula 1 during the next five races. At 21, the pilot from Pilar, province of Buenos Aires, will officially join the world championship grill, debuting in the Grand Prix of Emilia Romaña that will run on May 18 in the Icola circuit. The news, long expected, unleashed a wave of reactions in social networks and in the environment of international motor racing.
Alpine was in charge of making public the decision through its official channels. “Come on Franco! Franco Colapinto will make the leap to racing pilot for the next five races”published the team next to an image of the Argentine pilot with a national flag on his shoulders. Shortly after, they shared another photograph, this time by Jack Doohan, whom Colapinto will temporarily replace, and fired him with gratitude: “A true professional in every way. Thank you for your hard work and dedication while you were in the car, Jack. It will remain an integral part of our team as a reserve pilot.”
Colapinto will occupy a starting seat for the following major awards: Emilia Romaña, Monaco, Spain, Canada and Austria. Its inclusion is not only seen as a strategic bet of Alpine but also as a long -term evaluation for the 2026 season, according to Flavio Briatore, executive advisor of the team and main promoter of the Argentine within the French structure.
“The wait was long. Happy! We are back”Collapint wrote in his X account, reflecting the emotion of the moment. On Instagram, he replied with irony to a mural where he read “Where is colapinth, ‘Culia’“With a simple and forceful: “Here dad!”. He also published an image that simulates the iconic Batman scene when he was summoned by The “Batiseñal”, with its number 43 projected in the sky.
In official statements released by Bullet Sport Management, its representative agency, Colapinto thanked the team’s confidence: “I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Icola and the next triplet, which will undoubtedly be intense and a great challenge for all.” He added that he has maintained physical and technical preparation through test programs and work in the Estone simulator.
The announcement generated a quick response in the community of Formula 1. The official account of the championship wrote: “Colapinto returns to the grill with new colors … Come on, Franco!”next to a photo of the pilot dressed in Alpine’s clothing. In another post, they shared the photo of Colapinto with Pierre Gasly and wrote: “Alpine’s alignment for the next five rounds”accompanied by the emojis of the flags of Argentina and France.
The official account of the maxim also made another wink to the albiceleste athlete when uploading a photo of a thermos and a mate. “We will have to warm the water”he released.
Williams, the team in which Colapinto formed as a pilot in his academy, also expressed his recognition: “Congratulations, Franco Colapinto! It is fantastic to see another Williams Racing Driver Academy pilot graduate on the F1 grill, and we are looking forward to competing with you in Isola.”
Even the official account of Formula 2, category in which Colapinto competes, celebrated the news: “Franco Colapinto will run for Alpine F1 Team during the next five rounds, starting in Icola next weekend.”
It was also to highlight the reaction of Falcon Nathan Briatore, Flavio’s son, with whom he shared a roast a few weeks ago for his birthday. The young Italian responded to one of the publications of the Pilarense with a “Let’s go brother.”
Bizarrapwhich was vital at a key moment in the Colapinto race, also reacted to the news. He cited the athlete’s announcement with the phrase “Now yes. The beast returns.”
Beyond his talent and preparation, the arrival of Colapinto to the headline of Alpine rushed through the low yields of Jack Doohan. The Australian, who had been adding errors since the beginning of the season, was sanctioned in China by a reckless maneuver and accumulated penalty points that threatened their superlicnce. His accident in the trials in Japan and the sanctions in Bahrain and Miami reinforced the decision of the team to make a change.
Colapinto, who had already demonstrated superiority against Paul Aron and Kush Maini in private tests with the 2023 A523 made in Barcelona, Monza and Qatar, was the natural replacement. His performance in the simulator was another key argument: in Bahrain, for example, his distance work contributed directly to improvements in the tuning of the car.
With a mixture of expectation and caution, the world of international motor racing now observes the landing of a new Argentine pilot in Formula 1, the first since the participation of Gastón Mazzacane in the 2001 season. Colapinto has a unique opportunity ahead, with five races to demonstrate their worth and, possibly, ensure a permanent place in the highest category of world car.
The reactions of the world of formula 1 to the announcement of Franco Colapinto:
