Colapinto Joins Alpine After Red Bull Discussions

Franco Colapinto, the talented Argentine driver, was in discussions with Red Bull regarding a potential teammate role for Max Verstappen for the 2025 Formula 1 season, but ultimately secured a deal with Alpine. His manager, Maria Catarineu, confirmed that Red Bull team boss Christian Horner expressed interest in Colapinto, but the opportunity did not materialize due to Red Bull's strong driver academy and existing commitments. Alpine capitalized on the situation, paying $20 million to Williams for a five-year loan of Colapinto, who is now set to be their reserve and test driver. While Red Bull explored the option, they ultimately decided to focus on their internal drivers, promoting Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar instead. Colapinto's prospects remain bright, as there are indications he could replace Jack Doohan at Alpine if performance expectations are not met. Despite his move to Alpine, Catarineu and her husband will continue to manage Colapinto's career closely.