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Franco Colapinto will be Alpine's new test and reserve driver next season

Alpine announced on Thursday that Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto will be its test and reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 season, following the signing of a multi-year contract. The French team announced: ‘(Colapinto) joins the pool of talent that the team can call upon for driving services throughout the season’.

As part of his new role at Alpine, the Argentinean will be present at Grand Prix events throughout the 2025 season alongside Estonian driver Paul Aron and Japanese driver Ryō Hirakawa. He will also be part of the Vintage Car Testing Programme and will work in the driver simulator at the team's headquarters in Enstone, UK.

Colapinto, who made his debut in the premier class for Williams this past season, expressed his gratitude in a press release from Alpine: ‘They made my dream of racing in Formula One come true, and I will always be grateful to them for that. A new stage for the Argentinean who considers that ‘now it is time for a new chapter’ where he faces ‘this challenge’ which for him is ‘a real honour’. 

And despite this big change, Franco Colapinto has not stopped being grateful for this new opportunity: ‘I can't wait to get started and see where this journey takes us. I would also like to thank all my sponsors and partners who have supported me in the challenges of the 2024 season. Your support has made this possible, and to my amazing fans in Argentina: Thank you so much! Your passion and encouragement mean a lot to me. Let's aim for even bigger things in 2025 and beyond.

 Colapinto has achieved great personal victories in his first season in Formula 1, such as his best position (eighth) in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

‘I am super excited to have the opportunity to join the BWT Alpine Formula One team. First of all, I want to thank Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi’. The Argentinean driver remarked again.