The story of Alpinethe French team of Formula 1 for which Franco Colapinto He will be a reserve driver from this season, starting in 1955 when Jean Rédélé founded the brand in his hometown, Dieppe.
Inspired by competition, Rédélé transformed Renault models such as the iconic 4CV into lightweight, competitive vehicles that left their mark on motorsport.
With rally victories and a historic conquest of Le Mans in 1978, Alpine established itself as a brand associated with high performance. However, after a period of decline, Renault took full control of Alpine in 2014, seeking to return it to its prestigious place, a dream that would come true with the creation of the Alpine F1 team in 2021.
Before becoming Alpine, the team was already a giant under the Renault umbrella. With Flavio Briatore At the helm, Renault starred in two eras of glory in Formula 1. First with Michael Schumacher and Benetton in the 90s, and then with Fernando Alonsoachieving drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2005 and 2006.
Some time before, Renault entered the top division in 1977 with the first turbo engine in the category. By the end of the 80s he put together the remembered tandem with Williams, which debuted in 1989 with the unprecedented 3.5-liter V10 engine with pneumatic valves.
The rhombus firm left in the middle of that decade as a constructor but remained in Formula 1 as a motorcyclist. The Williams of 1992, one of the most technological in history, marked an era, but it was in 1994 when Renault was part of a historic event: the Benetton team – the spiritual ancestor of Alpine – achieved its first title with the German Michael Schumacher, triumph that would be repeated in 1995.
After Alonso’s titles, Renault mixed sweet moments with worries, alternating seasons in which it participated in the category with others in which the team became Lotus and then returned to its parent company and fought in the middle of the table. builders.
With Briatore’s departure and several years of mixed results, Renault became Alpine looking for a new identity in the premier category.
Since its debut in 2021, Alpine showed flashes of competitiveness, such as the victory of Esteban Ocon in Hungary and occasional podiums Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly. However, ups and downs marked his career.
The 2023 season brought profound changes to its structure, including the dismissal of Otmar Szafnauer as team manager and the arrival of Flavio Briatore as an advisor. With its return, the French team closed 2024 with a sixth place in the championship and a double podium at Interlagos, making it clear that they aspire for more.
In this context of reconstruction, Alpine opened its doors to Colapinto as a reserve driver, after he marked a turning point at Williams, when he replaced Logan Sargeant for the last nine races of the 2024 season, making a great impression and leaving all teams wanting to have him in their ranks.
The Argentine who was going to be a reserve driver in the British team after not getting a seat for 2025, will now do so as part of Alpine. With Jack Doohan, who rose from Formula 2 to occupy the position left vacant by Esteban Ocon, but with a contract of only five races ahead, everything could happen for the Argentine to be competing in Formula again in the short term. 1.
The separation of Renault and Alpine in 2026 will mark a new chapter, with the French team leaving the diamond engines behind to become Mercedes customers.
This change underlines Alpine’s ambition to establish itself as a serious Formula 1 contender, a mission that if realized could have Colapinto as one of its protagonists.
Source: Ambito
