Franco Colapinto will join Alpine, leaving Williams: the Argentinian driver departs from his debut F1 team
This is probably the most significant news of January: Franco Colapinto will move to Alpine, thus ending his relationship with Williams Racing. The Argentinian driver, who came up through the Williams Academy, found himself “blocked” by the more experienced Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz—a situation that likely would have kept him out of the car until at least 2026-2027.
Statements of the key figures
Williams Racing team principal James Vowles commented on the departure of the young Argentinian driver: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Alpine for Franco to join their team on a multi-year contract starting in 2025. Over nine memorable Grands Prix with Williams, Franco clearly demonstrated he deserves a place in Formula 1, and we always said we would support him in securing one.”
“For 2025 and beyond, Williams will have one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. Therefore, we believe this agreement with Alpine represents the best opportunity for Franco to secure a race seat in 2025 or 2026”, Vowles continued, hinting that Jack Doohan’s spot might be seriously at risk.
“The Williams Racing Driver Academy exists to discover and develop the F1 stars of the future, and that is exactly what it has achieved in Franco’s case, continuing our long tradition of giving young talent the chance to emerge at the highest level of motorsport.”
“We are proud to have returned Argentina to the F1 grid: we thank Franco for everything he has brought to the team and look forward to future battles on track.”
Franco Colapinto also shared his thoughts: “I want to sincerely thank Williams Racing and the team’s partners, who supported me from the moment I joined the Academy and gave me the opportunity to become a Formula 1 driver.”
“They made my dreams come true, and I will always be grateful for that. I would like to thank the mechanics and all the team members who made an incredible effort to put the car on track and gave me the opportunity to score points. And to the fans, who have been so supportive—you’ve been there for us in both good and bad times; you’re the best” , concluded the Argentinian.
Photo: Williams Racing