Vowles explains loaning Colaptino to Alpine

Franco Colapinto is in a unique situation regarding his contract situation, as he has deals with two Formula 1 teams, which also put the pressure on Australia’s Jack Doohan.

This is the situation after Williams and Alpine were able to come to an agreement that gives the young Argentinian driver a better chance of returning to Grand Prix racing as soon as possible.

Colapinto replaced the accident prone Logan Sargeant after the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix and immediately impressed James Vowles and the entire Williams team with his speed and commitment.

However, he knew there was no room for him to keep on racing with the British team this year as Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon had already signed long-term deals with the squad

His speed even made Red Bull have a good look at buying his contract out to place him alongside Max Verstappen in its main team, before a succession of spectacular and expensive crashes dented their interest.

At Alpine, though, Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes still believed Colapinto would be a better choice than the already contracted Jack Doohan and eventually found a way to get him to join their team, while keeping contractual ties with Williams.

At the launch of this year’s Williams, Team Principal James Vowles summarised Colapinto’s situation saying that “he is with Alpine and he is an Alpine driver for a number of years. After that point, I hope he comes back to Williams.”

The Argentinian’s accidents towards the end of the season damaged his reputation in the paddock but Vowles insists that “I believe in Franco – I believe, even at the detriment and cost to Williams, that a racing driver that is capable of being in Formula 1 should be racing in Formula 1.

“But we have two incredible drivers that will be with us for at least a couple of years, and maybe up to four years depending on where we get to. So, there is no room in the inn, as we’d say in English.”

That’s why Vowles accepted the proposal made by Alpine, explaining that “they presented the best opportunity for Franco to be a racing driver in 2026 and maybe 2025 and that’s important to me. It gives him a great opportunity to still come back to the sport where I believe he deserves to race.”

Sources close to the young driver revealed the ‘loan’ deal is valid for three years and can be renewed for another two, meaning Williams will have first call over Colapinto’s services for 2028 and 2030, with Alpine being his priority from this season until the end of 2027.

Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

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