Just days into 2025, Alpine have added an important dimension to the F1 transfer market. Franco Colapinto has signed a multi-year deal and joined the French team as a reserve driver.

Signing Colapinto is a solid bet for Alpine, but there's no question it puts a spotlight on its 2025 driver before the season even begins.

Franco Colapinto 's manager has shed light on her negotiations with Alpine and a “persistent” Flavio Briatore following the Argentine’s team move ahead of the 2025 F1 season. Last week, Colapinto was announced as Alpine’s reserve and test driver for the upcoming campaign.

On Thursday, the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team announced that it had reached a multi-year deal with Williams to sign Colapinto to a reserve and test driver role for this season. The move would appear to put Colapinto in line for a seat at Alpine should anything happen to—or the team decide to move on from—drivers Pierre Gasly or Jack Doohan.

Franco Colapinto has joined Alpine as a test and reserve driver for the 2025 Formula One season after the team struck a deal to sign him from Williams. The team has maintained that Jack Doohan, who it named as Esteban Ocon’s replacement for 2025 at the end of August, is its race driver for the start of the season.

Alpine have acquired Franco Colapinto to become the team's reserve driver for 2025 adding further pressure on the under-fire Jack Doohan.

Jacques Villeneuve believes Franco Colapinto has only himself to blame for damaging his chances after his late-season crashes cost him a seat on the F1 2025 grid. Colapinto was an unexpected replacement at Williams when James Vowles called time on Logan Sargeant’s stay,

OPINION: Franco Colapinto's deal with Alpine is seen by many as a direct threat to Jack Doohan – and that's probably just because it is. It's a bit ruthless of the new Alpine bosses to put so much pressure on their driver,