Franco Colapinto’s season took another hit at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished at the back of the grid once again for Alpine.
There was some early promise for the Argentine after he outqualified teammate Pierre Gasly and made it into Q2, starting 14th. But both Alpines quickly dropped down the order during the race, finishing 18th and 19th.
A slow 10-second pit stop didn’t help matters for Colapinto, who remains the only driver yet to score a point this season. Questions about his place in the team aren’t going away anytime soon.
Briatore has publicly backed Colapinto in recent months but is clearly exploring other options now.
There were whispers that Jack Doohan was set to take over at Spa, though nothing came of it. Doohan and Paul Aron are among the internal candidates Alpine could turn to, while Briatore is also considering names from outside the organisation.
Flavio Briatore sees Sergio Perez’s potential deal as a ‘win-win situation’, claims Ralf Bach
Valtteri Bottas has also been linked to the team, with Mercedes reportedly pushing for the move since Alpine will become their customer team in 2026.
While Bottas was initially reported to be uninterested in joining Alpine due to ongoing talks with Cadillac, he has since indicated that a short-term deal could appeal to him.
Sergio Perez is another name in the mix. The Mexican driver is looking for a way back onto the grid following his departure from Red Bull, and Briatore is said to be interested in bringing experience into the team. Journalist Ralf Bach believes Perez remains a strong candidate.
“So I still think that he’s under scrutiny from Briatore, still being viewed critically, and anyone who knows Briatore knows that he has other ideas about the future.”
Bach added: “I don’t think it’s any secret that he has already talked to Bottas, and I also believe that Perez should not be underestimated when it comes to who will drive for Alpine next, because Perez has experience and has millions behind him again from Carlos Slim, who wants to bring him back to Formula 1.
“So Briatore definitely sees a win-win situation in getting Perez, and I wouldn’t necessarily rule out that happening.”
Franco Colapinto faces critical summer break as Alpine future hangs in the balance
Perez would bring more than just commercial value to Alpine – he would also add a level of experience the team are currently lacking. Since making the switch from Williams, Colapinto has struggled to get comfortable in the A525.
One of his main issues has been raw pace. He’s had trouble making it out of Q1 and hasn’t shown much speed on race days either. Sources within Alpine have noted that Colapinto’s gap to Gasly is becoming a problem, especially as the team continues to lose ground in the constructors’ standings following Hungary.
However, it’s not just about pace. Alpine are reportedly more concerned about his mistakes behind the wheel. The tendency for errors that was evident at Williams has carried over, with several incidents and lapses hurting the team throughout this season.
Martin Brundle has already suggested that Colapinto could be under threat beyond 2025, with other drivers waiting for their shot. Unless he makes significant changes over the break, staying in Formula 1 could become even harder.
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