Colapinto: I have to get up to speed

Colapinto was drafted to replace Jack Doohan, who, despite not setting the Formula 1 world alight, was not given a decent opportunity to prove himself and was shown the door at Enstone after six races.

On the other hand, Colapinto has been handed a five-race chance to prove himself, and the Argentine is eager to show his worth in an F1 car.

"I am very excited to be going into race week for the first time since December," Colapinto said in Alpine's preview of the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

"I am very grateful for this opportunity and now I have to get up to speed and showcase what I am capable of doing in the car."

Colapinto got his first shot in F1 with Williams back in 2024 as he replaced the crash-prone Logan Sargeant and impressed with his performance, scoring points on two occasions, but he showed a tendency to make mistakes towards the end of the season. That, however, did not stop Alpine from signing him as a reserve and Plan B to replace Doohan.

The 21-year-old is looking fondly back on his debut in Italy last season. He added: "Italy feels like a very special place for me for a number of reasons.

"It is where I made my Formula 1 debut in Monza last year. And now, I go to Imola for my first race with Alpine. I have fond memories of winning in Italy for the first time in Formula Renault back in 2020 in Monza and then my first victories in both Formula 3 and Formula 2 came in Imola in 2022 and 2024.

"Imola is a track I really enjoy," Colapinto continued. "It is just a legendary place with some great corners which I am especially looking forward to in a Formula 1 car for the first time.

"I will aim to work hard with the team and try to get on the pace quickly in order to contribute to the team's ambitions for the weekend.

"It has been a great first few months with everyone at Enstone with some TPC running in the 2023 car and time in the simulator, so I am definitely feeling ready and prepared," he concluded.

Alpine has been the second team to go through a driver controversy after Red Bull replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races with them.

But the Renault-owned team has gone the extra mile in terms of making the headlines, and for the wrong reasons, as Oliver Oakes abruptly left his role as team principal, citing personal reasons. Soon after it was announced that his brother was arrested and that he flew out to Dubai. That story is still developing...