Franco Colapinto tipped to shine despite “turbulent” Alpine F1 environment

Franco Colapinto will make his Alpine F1 debut at this weekend's Emilia R💟omagna Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto
Franco Colapinto

James Vowles has backed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Franco Colapinto to succeed at Alpine despite the F1 team’s “turbulent” environment.

Following the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine announced Colapinto’s promotion to a full-time F1 seat in place of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jack Doohan.

Since joining the team at the start of the year, it was inevitable that Colapinto would get the o🔜pportunity ꧋to race again in F1.

Colapinto starred during his short stint for Williams at the end of last y✤ear.

However, with Williams already securing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz for 2025, Colapinto was left without a seat.

Colapinto was linked with Red Bull and Alpine - but a♓ run of heavy crashes at the end of the year hampered his chances.

Colapinto ultimately joined Alpine as their test anꦰd reserve driver in January.

Vowles believes Colapinto will “do a good job” for Alpine, even if it’s for a💟 short period.

“There’s a reason why we were really happy to do a transaction with Alpine because I really did think it’s his best chance of being in a racing seat either in ’25 or we thought more specifically ’26൩,” Vowles said as quoted by the official F1 website.

“I’m proud he was par♏t of our academy and that we have a responsibility towards why he’s now on the grid today.

“What you saw with us is he got up to speed very quickly. I know he’s immensely quick,🅘 so I think irrespective of whatever deadline they’ve set, he’ll do a good job in that period of time.”

Colapinto will thrive in “turbulent” environment

Colapinto’s promotion coincided with Oliver Oakes’ departure fr💦om൩ the team.

Oakes had been Alpine team pr♋incipal siꦕnce the middle of last year.

Initially, it was 🔴suggested his departure was linked to the decision to drop Doohan afteꦡr just six rounds.

It soon transpired that Oakes’ brother 🍌- William Oakes - had been arrested and charged with “transferring cr🐈iminal property”.

The two Oakes brothers were listed as directors of the Hitech Grand Prix tea𓆉m - they compete in F2 and F3.

Vowleꦏs tꩲhinks the challenging environment at Alpine will make Colapinto stronger.

“Is it in a turbulent time? Yes, no doubt about it,” Vo🙈wles added. “Will they be supportive to Pierre and Franco?

“Yes, I th𓄧ink they will as well because they’re still the elite athletes that are driving for them iꦅn order to score the most points you can. What normally happens even in a turbulent time is you still support your drivers.

“I actually think the learning is invaluable, whether it’s in that team or elsewhere. A, it’s time on track, B, it’s time and a difficult environment and if you come out of it you’ll only be str🀅onger as a result. Franco is stronger so I think it’🦩s still the right place for him to be at this stage.”

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