Franco Colapinto has officially joined Alpine as a reserve driver, transitioning from his previous role with Williams. The announcement came on Thursday evening, positioning the 21-year-old Argentine as a strong contender for a potential full-time Formula 1 seat in 2025.

Colapinto made his F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix last summer, stepping in for Logan Sargeant. Over his nine-race stint, he scored five points but also faced setbacks, including three significant crashes at the Sao Paulo and Las Vegas Grands Prix. These incidents impacted his reputation and derailed speculation about a move to the Red Bull camp. With both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon committed to multi-year contracts at Williams, Colapinto's prospects there dimmed, despite assurances from team principal James Vowles about an extensive testing program. Alpine's roster has also expanded, with the Toyota-linked Ryo Hirakawa joining as a support driver and F2 standout Paul Aron, recently released by Mercedes.