Williams Team Principal James Vowles has cleared up comments he made regarding Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 prospects with Alpine in the 2025 season and beyond.
Colapinto’s surprisingly quick adaptation to F1 during his nine-race stint with Williams last year turned heads.
With Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon locked into long-term deals at Grove, Colapinto, his management and Williams looked to find the Argentine the best possible home to ensure a quick return to the F1 grid.
Meanwhile, Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore was public in his admiration for Colapinto and sure enough, the 21-year-old was named a reserve driver for the Enstone-based team in January.
In a Williams’ statement, Vowles said the move “represents Franco’s best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026.”
Doohan’s Alpine future uncertain
This prompted speculation that Colapinto will be primed to replace Alpine’s rookie Jack Doohan alongside Pierre Gasly if the Australian fails to make an impact, similar to how Logan Sergeant was culled by Williams last year.
Vowles’ remarks feed the narrative, one that was given a foundation by Briatore’s words to Le Perisien: “The only certain thing is death”.
The enigmatic Italian added: “if there is a driver who is not making progress, who is not bringing results, he will be changed”.
Given his professing that Colapinto could end up on the F1 grid this year, Vowles was asked to comment by RacingNews365 if he genuinely believes that to be a possibility and whether Doohan deserves a chance.
His response: “I think both. Jack should be given the time to prove himself. Simple as that. I think every driver should be given the opportunity.
“If, and it’s an if, he’s not the right level, Franco is there and ready to go, and that’s what I meant by it [in his prior remarks],” he added.
Alpine Colapinto’s ‘best opportunity’ – Vowles
Doohan has already made his F1 debut, slotting in to replace the outgoing Esteban Ocon in the 2024 season-ending Abu Dhabi GP after a year on the sidelines as a reserve.
As such, the Australian should be afforded the time, as Vowles said, to prove himself.
Still, Alpine has broadened its options in signing Colapinto and his deal with Alpine reportedly runs through 2029 according to his management.
The faith shown by Alpine in Colapinto backs up Vowles’ claims that Enstone represents the Argentine’s best opportunity to get back on the F1 grid.
“Look at the grid, that is the best opportunity for Franco, and my job in this is making sure he is put in the best situation possible,” he said.
“We [Williams] have a great driver line-up for at least the next two years so it won’t be with us, and it won’t be up and down the grid, if you look at it for the most part.
“So it’s his best chance to get in.”
READ MORE – Jack Doohan will get ‘fair chance’ to impress Alpine amid Franco Colapinto arrival
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