Colapinto on brink of being signed by Alpine

Franco Colapinto is on the brink of joining Alpine despite the F1 team confirming Ryo Hirakawa as its reserve and test driver. 

RacingNews365 understands a move is imminent and it would be as a third driver.

Depending on the performances of its two full-time drivers, Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, there is the obvious possibility of a step up for Colapinto, as stated by team adviser Flavio Briatore.

Alpine has already bolstered its ranks by adding Ryo Hirakawa. The Japanese racer will take part in FP1 for the team at his home grand prix, the third round of the 2025 F1 season.

Upon announcing that move, the French squad confirmed it was "expanding the pool of talent from which the team may call upon throughout the season for testing and driving duties".

In November, former Mercedes junior Paul Aron was added to its roster, also in a reserve role, succeeding Doohan in the position.

However, what is notable, from Williams' perspective, is that it will effectively be letting Argentinean Colapinto leave for an equivalent role at Alpine.

The 21-year-old proved lucrative for the Grove-based team when he stepped into a race seat in place of Logan Sargeant last season, bringing with him considerable sponsorship from his home nation and other areas of Latin America.

It remains to be seen whether Williams can retain those sponsors if and when Colapinto leaves, although, given the close ties between the driver and the financial support, it is unlikely.

It is, therefore, more than possible Alpine will have to pay to release Colapinto from his current contract, something seldom heard of for a reserve or third driver.

With Colapinto initially impressing over his nine-round stint for Williams, it is believed the price tag he would have garnered was around $20 million when Red Bull was keen to bring him into the fold at Racing Bulls.

That interest cooled and no move materialised, thus the fee Alpine would potentially have to pay will have dropped accordingly.