Williams Formula 1 boss James Vowles has revealed Franco Colapinto will return to the team in the future, despite his ex-driver’s apparent long-term agreement with Alpine.
Colapinto’s emergence upon replacing the ousted Logan Sargeant with nine races to go at Williams in 2024 saw him become an unexpected hot topic in the driver market.
The Argentine was consigned to vacating his interim spot at Williams to Carlos Sainz, but his exploits, which included points on his second outing, garnered interest elsewhere.
Alpine capitalised on the situation to negotiate a deal to acquire Colapinto, who will begin the upcoming campaign among the squad’s expanded reserve driver pool.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision to release his graduate to a rival, Vowles highlighted that Colapinto has a better chance of returning to the grid with Alpine.
Colapinto has been touted to be given the step up to a race drive at Jack Doohan’s expense, with a switch even considered plausible at some point during this season.
And while it was indicated that pen was put to paper on a deal until 2029, Vowles has guaranteed Colapinto will be recalled to Williams once his stint at Alpine concludes.
Asked whether he could validate that it is a loan arrangement, Vowles told media including Motorsport Week: “It’s as I described it, really.
“There’s a period of time whereby I hope he is racing for Alpine.
“The reason why we did this is that I wanted him to be racing in ’25 and or ’26. It’s the best chance he has is with Alpine, as far as [getting on the grid], that’s why he’s there.
“And I don’t mean that to the detriment of Jack. I hope Jack has a successful time.
“But ultimately, Franco is my driver that I want back in that car.
“After a period of time, he’ll return to Williams. That period of time is not a line set in stone where I can look you in the eye and say it.
“But I can say he’ll be back to Williams at some point.”
Alpine giving Doohan a ‘fair crack’ amid Colapinto rumours
There have been rumours that a clause in Doohan’s contract will permit Alpine to drop him mid-season and place Colapinto alongside the more established Pierre Gasly.
But Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has instead the Australian, who made his F1 debut at the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December, will be given the chance to prove his worth.
“It’s been a little bit harsh on Jack, some of the stuff that was written by the keyboard warriors there, and he’s getting his fair crack at it next year,” Oakes said.
Oakes stressed that signing Colapinto “isn’t to put [pressure] on [Doohan’s] shoulders, instead explaining that it was done to “give the team options further down the line”.
“And for me F1 is fine margins,” he continued.
“There’s a load of people who are depending on a driver to deliver each weekend, and we need to make sure we’ve got the best drivers in the race car, not just now, but also in the future.”
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