Franco Colapinto addresses Red Bull rumors with pointed response: 'It's too late now'

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto didn’t make the trip with Alpine to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix as their reserve driver after last week fresh rumors about a potential move to Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s secondary team sparked. But Colapinto has since made it clear where his priorities lie.

“I’m an Alpine driver. I have a contract with them. I’m working hard and hoping for an opportunity with this team. They went out of their way to bring me in. If the other guys weren’t paying attention, it’s too late now,” Colapinto said during a casual appearance on the Nude Project podcast.

Colapinto, 21, had been in the spotlight during the offseason after missing out on a full-time Formula 1 seat with Williams. His name resurfaced recently as Red Bull evaluated options following Liam Lawson’s underwhelming performances alongside Max Verstappen in Australia and China. Still, Red Bull opted to keep Yuki Tsunoda in the main team, sending Lawson back to Racing Bulls.

However, according to reports from PlanetF1.com, the rumors didn’t have any solid base. The outlet states that, despite rumors of potential talks, the team didn’t consider Colapinto seriously. In the end, it was Alpine that landed Colapinto, signing him as a reserve driver behind Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan.

Colapinto during the China Grand Prix (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Colapinto’s move to Alpine

In January, Williams and Alpine announced a deal for Colapinto. The 21-year-old Argentinian shares Test and Reserve Driver duties with Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa, attending several races throughout the year.

Williams Team Principal James Vowles stated that the team supported Colapinto’s move, believing Alpine offers him the best opportunity to secure a full-time seat in 2025 or 2026. Especially as the team’s 2025 lineup of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz left limited room for advancement.

Colapinto was testing again in Monza

While he didn’t travel to Japan with the team, Colapinto got back behind the wheel during a private test session in Monza, Italy. A clip of the Argentine driving Alpine’s 2023 car quickly made the rounds on social media.

The test came the same weekend Max Verstappen won yet another Grand Prix, while Alpine struggledm with Gasly finishing 13th and Doohan 15th. However, currently, Lando Norris is the driver who leads the standings, with Verstappen second after three races.

Though the test was not official race prep, it marked another step in Colapinto’s development, while also reinforcing Alpine’s commitment to preparing him for a future role with the team.