In the lead-up to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Alpine swapped regular driver Jack Doohan for reserve Franco Colapinto. The change was not unexpected; even before the season opener in Australia, Doohan was already under pressure. After six Grands Prix on the bench, Colapinto looks ahead to his very first race with Alpine. He draws confidence from the ‘legendary’ Imola circuit, the stage for his debut, where he has had success in the past.
“I’m very excited to be going into a race weekend for the first time since December,” Franco Colapinto responded in an official press release. At the end of last year, he was still racing for the Williams team, but with the arrival of Carlos Sainz, the young Argentine had to make way. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity – now it’s up to me to show what I can do as quickly as possible.” Colapinto is delighted to be making his debut again in Italy, a special location for the 21-year-old driver.
Ready and Prepared
“Italy feels like a very special place for me for a number of reasons,” explained Colapinto. “It’s where I made my Formula 1 debut last year, in Monza. And now I’m heading to Imola for my first race with Alpine. I have fond memories of my first victory in the Formula Renault in 2020 in Monza, and then I achieved my first victories in both the Formula 3 and the Formula 2 in Imola, in 2022 and 2024. It’s a circuit I truly enjoy. It’s simply a legendary place with some great turns. I’m looking forward to driving here for the first time in a Formula 1 car. It’s been a fantastic first few months with everyone in Enstone,” he concluded. “Thanks to the TPC tests and all the simulator hours, I feel ready and prepared.”
Pierre Gasly, who has found his new teammate in Colapinto, emphasizes the new challenges for the team. After “a lack of pace” in Miami, the Frenchman hopes to bounce back in Imola. “I’m excited to return to Imola,” he said. “It’s an old-school circuit and one of my favorites of the season. Qualifying is incredibly important, as it’s very difficult to overtake, so we’ll mainly focus on the pace over a single lap.” Last week, Gasly enjoyed European football. “I was very happy to be in Paris to see PSG reach the Champions League final,” he concluded. “I can’t wait to watch that on Saturday night during the race weekend in Spain.”
