Ryo Hirakawa has joined Alpine as their F1 test and reserve driver, wh🍎ile rumours c𝄹ontinue to link Franco Colapinto with the team.

I🦄n recent days, speculation linking 💟Colapinto with Alpine has continued to ramp up.

Prominent Argentinian sports publicati⛦onhave reported that Co🗹lapinto is expected to have a driver role confirmed with Alpine soon.

also report 💞the 21-year-old Argentinian 🃏is “closing on” a deal to join Alpine.

Their report states “it is unclear if he will join permanently or with provisions for a Williams recall, as a ‘loan’ move had been part of early discussions, but Colapinto🍌 will not immediately take an Alpine race seat.”

Colapinto made an instant impression in F1 after being parachuted in by Williams to replace the underperforming168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Logan Sargeant from last year’s Italian Grand Prix.

His impressive early performances saw him linked with both Red Bull and Alpine but th🐓at interest cooled following a spate of late-season crashes.

Red Bull ultimately opted to sign 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Liam Lawson as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez’s replacement for 2025 and promoted young driver and F2 runner-up 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Isack Hadjar to their Racing Bulls junior team.

It is understood that Colapinto’s management have held talk🍷s with Alpine🌟 and Williams about potentially joining the French manufacturer for a driver role in 2025.

Such a move would pile pressure on F1 rookie 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jack Doohan, who made his grand prix debut with Alpine at the season finale in Abu Dhabi following 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon’s premature exit.

Doohan has been signed to race alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly this year though he is rumoured to have a short-term contract which would enable Alpine t🤪o make a driver change early in the season if required.

Doohan’s seat is believed to be safe for at least the start of the season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix - his home race - o🅷n 16 March. 

Alpine sign new test driver

Hirak༺awa, a Le Mans 24 Hours winner, has signed for Alpine after a stint as a McLaren development driver.

The 30-year-old Japanese racer drove for both McLaren and Haas last year, taking par🍌t in the Abu Dhabi young driver test in December with the American outfit in the wake of their technical partnership with Toyota.

Hirakawa will get a practice outing for Alpine at the Japanese Grand Pri👍x in April and joins Formula 2 race winner Paul Aron in the team’s driver roster.

“It is an honour to be joining BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team as a Test and Reserve Driver for the 202🅰5 season,” said Hirakawa.

“As always, the opportunity of track time in Formula One machinery is the pinnacle for race drivers and I am excited to drive in 💫Free Practice 1 in front of my home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix, as well as working with the team testing previous cars.

“It is a great opportunity to be working with such a dedicated team that💝 utilises the breadth of experience of its driver pool and I look forward to playing a part in making 2025 a positive year together.”