La market season it seemed to have reached its final stages after thelanding in Sauber of the young man Gabriel Bortoleto and a last shot is still possible according to foreign media: Briatore wants in fact bring Franco Colapinto in Alpine.
The driver of the moment: Franco Colapinto
The time available to make the final market moves now seems to be over. The only seat still free I say Visa Cash App RB, currently occupied by Liam Lawson – who will undoubtedly receive a confirmation if not a promotion. Yet some media are fueling the rumors of a possible coup which will modify an already validated driver line-up.
According to Sportmediaset, Flavio Briatore he would have put on the trail of one of the most talked about pilots of the moment: Franco Colapinto. The Argentine, born in 2003, made his Formula 1 debut with Williams at the Monza Grand Prix last September. However, his adventure with the Wantage team – at least as a full-time driver – will inevitably end at the end of the 2024 season, with Carlos Sainz taking his place. However, they are several teams have shown interest for him, among these Alpine also appears.
Briatore wants Colapinto: the advisor is ready to bring him to Alpine
Theoretically the French team has put locked up his pair of drivers: renewing before purchasing, Pierre Gasly e promoting then Jack Doohan, who will replace Esteban Ocon heading to Haas. Theannouncement that the young Australian will make his debut in the top category was made during free practice on Friday at Zandvoort. At the time of the announcement of Alpine's choice, Colapinto was still a driver for MP Motorsport engaged in the Formula 2 Championship. Just a week later Franco took over from Sargeant for the Italian weekend.
The Argentine immediately showed himself for what he is, both on and off the track. Direct, without too many turns of phrase, he managed to conquer the paddock, the fans and the various sponsors who, in a sport like this, are fundamental. The talent di Colapinto did not go unnoticed, has caught the attention of Flavio Briatore who wants to bring him to Alpine – according to rumours. The Piedmontese manager would therefore seem ready to change direction, making aU-turn and returning to a junction he had not previously noticed: the road to Franco.
What will become of Jack Doohan?
Briatore would therefore be ready to bet on Colapinto, offering him an alternative to VCARB, unless Red Bull intervenes directly in the situation by taking Franco and putting him in place of Perez. The now advisor of the Enstone team had already succeeded in this type of feat in the past. In 1991, Briatore targeted Michael Schumacher, taking him away from Jordan, the team with which the German driver made his debut in the top category. The seven-time World Champion made his debut aboard the Benetton-branded single-seater just two weeks later, at the Italian GP.
The spontaneous question is: what will become of Jack Doohan? The son of the MotoGP Champion was ready to take to the track after the last year spent watching what happened from the team garages. Doohan has finally reached the promotion milestone after three years as a test driver – as well as reserve driver. Jack has taken part in several free practice sessions over the past few years and his performances have convinced the team to offer him a full time position. According to some rumours coming from Germany and reported by F1-Insider however, Briatore would have had a special contract, valid only for the first five GPs.
Le performance of the Australian would therefore be evaluated starting from the beginning of the season, and then taking a later one decision about his future. If performance does not meet expectations, Doohan could be replaced from the peer Colapinto. It is good to keep in mind that these are rumors, nothing confirmed, but one thing is certain: in Formula 1, anything is possible.
SOURCE: SPORTMediaset
