Williams boss James Vowles has backed Franco Colapinto to deliver for Alpine in Formula 1, despite the recognition that the team is going through a “turbulent time”.
Alpine cast the much-anticipated announcement last week that Jack Doohan was being moved aside six rounds into the season to promote Colapinto at his expense.
That succeeded the more astounding news the previous evening that Oliver Oakes had resigned as Alpine team boss, a development unrelated to Doohan’s demotion.
Oakes’ shock departure has made him the third person to have guided the team without success since the Renault-owned organisation rebranded into Alpine in 2021.
Along with Otmar Szafnauer and Bruno Famin, Alpine has parted with multiple long-standing senior figures such as Alan Permane, Pat Fry, Matt Harman and Bob Bell.
But despite acknowledging the upheaval within Alpine, Vowles, who granted Colapinto his F1 debut last term, is convinced the Argentine is in the correct environment.
“Is it in a turbulent time? Yes no doubt about it,” Vowles said.
“Will they be supportive to Pierre [Gasly] and Franco?
Yes I think they will as well because they’re still the elite athletes that are driving for them in order to score the most points you can.
“What normally happens, even in a turbulent time, is you still support your drivers. I actually think the learning is invaluable whether it’s in that team or elsewhere.
“It’s time on track, it’s time in a difficult environment – and if you come out of it you’ll only be stronger as a result.
“And Franco is strong, so I think it’s still the right place for him to be at this stage.”
Colapinto tipped to hit ground running
Alpine has given Colapinto an initial five rounds to prove his worth, but Vowles believes that his ex-driver’s past experience hopping in mid-season will serve him well.
“There’s a reason we were really happy to do a transaction with Alpine,” he added.
“I really do think it’s his best chance of being in a racing seat, either in 2025 – or we thought, more specifically, ’26.
“I’m proud he was part of our academy and that we have a responsibility towards why he’s now on the grid today.
“What you saw with us is he got up to speed very quickly.
“I know he’s immensely quick, so I think irrespective of whatever deadline they [Alpine] have set, he’ll do a good job in that period of time.”
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