Alpine F1 chief Flavio Briatore reveals driver meeting as NEW contract underway

Jack Doohan and Frnaco Colapinto, Alpine — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 chief reveals driver meeting as NEW contract underway

Alpine F1 advisor Flavio Briatore appeared pleased to welcome Franco Colapinto

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 25 January 2025 10:57

Alpine Formula 1 advisor Flavio Briatore has welcomed a new driver to the team's ranks with open arms ahead of the 2025 season.

The Enstone-based outfit have plenty of drivers to choose from should they encounter any issues with this year's driver lineup, as they recently confirmed the signing of their third test and reserve driver.

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Following a season of mixed results last year, Oliver Oakes' outfit announced that Esteban Ocon would no longer race for the team in 2025 but chose to retain his team-mate Pierre Gasly.

Ocon's replacement, Jack Doohan, was then handed an early debut with the team at the season finale last month at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Gasly and Ocon's fiery relationship became a point of discussion ever since the fellow countrymen were reunited at Alpine in 2023, with a history of ups and downs between the pair.

A highlight of the 2024 season, however saw Alpine's drivers put their differences aside and claim a stunning double podium after a masterclass of driving in the wet at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly ended their time as team-mates with a double podium

Esteban Ocon left Alpine to drive for Haas in 2025

Briatore supportive of Colapinto's team switch

Following Williams' signing of Carlos Sainz midway through last year, young star Franco Colapinto always knew there wouldn't be a full-time seat available with James Vowles' team for the upcoming season.

Whilst many expected the Argentine racer to stay on at Williams as their reserve driver, Alpine instead swooped in and signed the 21-year-old alongside Ryo Hirakawa and Paul Aron.

Franco Colapinto was reportedly a prime target for multiple F1 teams

Colapinto's move to Alpine has proved controversial before the new season has even begun, with many fans of the sport noting how the signing will likely place intense pressure on rookie Doohan following Briatore's comments in support of Colapinto.

Now, as the young star has officially completed his first day at Enstone, Briatore has welcomed the team's latest driver signing via a post on Instagram.

"Welcome Franco to the alpinef1team, Bienvenido Franco" the caption read.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Flavio Briatore (@briatoreflavio)

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

View full biography

Lewis Hamilton McLaren Daniel Ricciardo Alpine Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Brazilian Grand Prix