Will Franco Colapinto survive first Alpine deadline?

Franco Colapinto has been handed a five-round audition to secure the second Alpine seat for the remainder of the F1 season.

The Argentine was signed as a test and reserve driver for the embattled team over the winter, despite it already having a packed bench.

That move was made at the behest of executive adviser - and now de facto team principal - Flavio Briatore, who is a big admirer of the 21-year-old.

Having paid to release Colapinto from his existing deal at Williams, it felt inevitable he would find his way into the seat next to Pierre Gasly at some point this season, especially given the pressure it heaped upon Jack Doohan.

After months of speculation and close scrutiny over the Australian's performances, the team announced that change in the hours after Oliver Oakes' shock resignation.

Interestingly, however, it only confirmed the drive for the next five races, creating a pre-British Grand Prix deadline for the French outfit to make its next decision by.

With Doohan now waiting in the wings, hoping Colapinto flatters to deceive, there remains the outside possibility he is granted a seemingly unlikely reprieve.

If Alpine does not opt to keep Colapinto in the full-time race seat for the rest of the campaign, it may also look to push out its original deadline with an extension - or turn to its other reserve driver, Paul Aron.

But that would likely also be only be for a limited number of rounds before another - surely final - call between one of the three.

The insurgent outlier of the pack is Sergio Perez, who has been linked to Team Enstone for the 2026 F1 season.

The Mexican driver is also believed to be in the running for a Cadillac seat, so he could opt for a short-term contract with Alpine that offers both parties flexibility moving forward.

What do you think will happen when Franco Colapinto and the team reach its first deadline in five rounds time? Let us know my commenting and by voting below in the latest poll by RacingNews365.