Franco Colapinto Joins F1 Grid for 2025 — Here’s When He Debuts
Credit: BWT Alpine Formula One Team
One of Formula 1’s most persistent 2025 rumors has just been confirmed: Argentine driver Franco Colapinto will officially join the F1 grid, debuting at the Imola Grand Prix on May 18. The move follows a string of underwhelming performances from Australian rookie Jack Doohan, prompting the team to shake things up after six races. Colapinto’s deal is currently set for five Grand Prix. However, insiders suggest it may be subject to change depending on results, raising the possibility of Doohan or another driver returning before the season’s end.
The team has seen a wave of internal changes in recent days, including the resignation of Team Principal Oliver Oakes.
In a surprise twist, Flavio Briatore has returned to the paddock as the new team principal, marking his official comeback to F1 after years away. One of his first actions was confirming the long-circulating rumor about Colapinto via an official team statement:
“Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races. With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up. We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do in order to maximise our ambitions next year.”
Colapinto, no stranger to last-minute opportunities, made headlines in 2024 when he stepped in for Logan Sargeant at the Monza GP. He quickly impressed by scoring points in two of his first four races, something Sargeant failed to consistently deliver in his sophomore season. While he showed flashes of pace and earned massive fan support thanks to his funny, blunt attitude, Williams’ signing of Carlos Sainz meant Colapinto was left without a full-time seat for 2025, forcing him to look elsewhere late in the year when most key seats were already filled.
Born in Pilar, Argentina, Colapinto rose through the European junior ranks with standout performances in Formula Renault and F3. He gained major public attention back home when producer Bizarrap supported his early racing campaigns, helping him secure key sponsorships that kept his F1 dream alive.