Franco Colapinto’s rise to the pinnacle of motorsports was one of the biggest sensations of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Following his surprise debut in Monza with Williams Racing, the 21-year-old Argentinian quickly proved his worth. Across nine races, he delivered standout performances, including a points finish in only his second Formula One Grand Prix in Baku, becoming the first Argentine to score points in Formula 1 since 1982. A Q3 appearance and several stunning on-track battles, one of which granted him the “Overtake of the Year” award.
Beyond his racing skills, Franco brought an infectious energy to the paddock, captivating millions of fans with his personality and attracting a passionate following wherever he went.
Recognizing his talent and potential, BWT Alpine Formula One Team has entered into an agreement with Williams Racing on a multi-year-deal to release the 21-year-old Argentinian and brought Colapinto on board as their official Test and Reserve Driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Franco’s move comes 45 years after fellow Argentinian Carlos Reutemann drove for the Enstone-based team’s predecessor.
As Alpine’s reserve driver, Franco is poised to continue his development and remains a key figure in the F1 paddock, keeping his dream of a full-time return to the grid alive. Franco’s role will include attending a number of Formula 1 Grands Prix throughout the year, sharing driving duties in the Testing of Previous Cars Programme [TPC] as well as contributing to the team’s efforts on the driver-in-loop simulator at its headquarters in Enstone.
Franco Colapinto:
“I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team. First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula 1 into reality, and I will always be grateful for that.
Now, it’s time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour. A huge thank you to Luca (de Meo), Flavio (Briatore) and Oliver (Oakes) for believing in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms. I can’t wait to get started and see where this journey takes us.
Also a massive thank you to all my sponsors and partners who stood by me through the challenges of the 2024 season. Your support made it all possible and to my incredible fans in Argentina: “Muchas gracias!” Your passion and encouragement mean the world to me, let’s aim for even greater things in 2025 and beyond.”
Jamie Campbell-Walter, Managing Director, Bullet Sports Management:
“I’m delighted to confirm that Franco’s Formula 1 journey continues. For us, there was never any doubt that he belongs in F1. While all the race seats for the upcoming season were already filled, we made the most of the situation and found an excellent path forward.
We are deeply grateful to Williams Racing for everything they’ve done for Franco. They provided the perfect environment for him to learn the ropes and develop as a driver. However, it’s time for the next step, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead with BWT Alpine Formula One Team.
They are a highly respected team on an upward trajectory, and we’re thrilled that they recognised Franco’s potential and offered him this incredible opportunity. We can’t wait to see what he can achieve with them in the coming season and I thank Flavio and his team for his unwavering support of Franco.”
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor, BWT Alpine F1 Team:
“We are very pleased to come to an agreement with Williams Racing to sign Franco Colapinto. Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right now. It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula One grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver. We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.”
Franco Colapinto will make his first appearance in Alpine colours on February 18th at the official F1 launch event in London.