Is Alpine ready to drop Colapinto? New names emerge as exit looms – There’s a certain inevitability surrounding Franco Colapinto’s situation at Alpine. A promising rookie with no points after six races of his Formula 1 campaign, the writing is now scrawled across every pit wall: Alpine is preparing to pull the ripcord. It might just be a matter of when, not if, the Argentinian gets jettisoned.

It’s been a cruel homecoming for the 22-year-old, whose much-celebrated promotion earlier this year has rapidly turned into a public relations headache. Colapinto has appeared adrift in the cut-throat world of Formula 1, and with Alpine already languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, the team can hardly afford the luxury of sentimentality.

With the summer break looming, F1’s ever-enthusiastic paddock whisperers have shifted their focus from whether Colapinto will be sacked to who will replace him. In true Formula 1 fashion, the rumour mill is throwing out names like confetti, some expected, some delightfully absurd.

 

A Farewell Written in Zeroes

There’s no sugar-coating Colapinto’s performance: six races, zero points and a string of errors suggesting he may have been promoted prematurely. While Alpine has publicly maintained a stoic front, internally there is little appetite to continue propping up what has become an increasingly indefensible gamble.

The team, now under the iron-fisted control of the recently returned Flavio Briatore, has grown weary of polite excuses. Colapinto was supposed to signal a new dawn for Alpine, a charismatic South American star who would energise the brand and perhaps boost interest in untapped markets.

Instead, they have endured six consecutive weekends of unforced errors, blue flags and the occasional half-hearted radio message about tyre temperatures.

As one insider bluntly put it during the Silverstone weekend: “It’s just not working. And everyone knows it.”

 

Ted Kravitz Sparks the Carousel

Enter Sky Sports’ roving pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz, who threw a small grenade into the paddock theatre at Silverstone. When asked who might take over from Colapinto, Kravitz quickly mentioned Jack Doohan and Valtteri Bottas, both of whom had previously been rumoured, before casually adding two far more surprising contenders to the mix: Felipe Drugovich and Paul Aron.

Yes, that Paul Aron. And still that Drugovich, who continues to flirt with F1 relevance like a character in a never-ending soap opera.

Alpine fans might be forgiven for wondering if Kravitz had been enjoying the hospitality prosecco before the segment, but, as always in F1, there is method in the madness.

Horner serious trouble coming

 

The return of Doohan or the redemption of Bottas?

Let’s start with the obvious. Jack Doohan, a familiar face within Alpine’s setup, has been circling that race seat like a buzzard hoping for a second chance after being ousted earlier this season. The team already knows him but it would be seen as a backward step. If Alpine opts for minimal disruption and maximum familiarity, Doohan would seem the logical plug-and-play option.

Then there’s Valtteri Bottas, the ever-amiable Finn who, after a disappointing stint at Sauber, is reportedly eager to secure a competitive seat in 2026, when the regulations change. While Bottas hasn’t exactly set the world alight lately, his experience would provide a welcome counterbalance to the chaos that has engulfed Alpine with its rookie drivers.

Whether Briatore and his team can sell Bottas as a short-term saviour rather than a placeholder remains to be seen.

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Drugovich: a long shot or a stroke of genius?

Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin’s perennial Plan C, was not high on anyone’s list until Silverstone, mostly because his ties to Aston Martin appear ironclad. However, with no indication that Fernando Alonso will retire any time soon and Lance Stroll’s position secured by his family connections rather than his performance, Drugovich’s chances of securing a race seat are slim.

However, Alpine’s desperation might finally give the 25-year-old Brazilian his long-overdue shot. He’s technically competent and well-prepared — and, crucially, probably available if Aston Martin can be convinced to let him go. Whether Flavio can work some Italian magic behind the scenes remains the wild card.

 

Paul Aron: Risky Reboot or Inspired Youth Pick?

And then there’s Paul Aron. The Estonian prodigy finished third in last year’s F2 championship, and has been working hard behind the scenes. He’s already wearing Alpine team gear as a reserve, and his status as a double stand-in for both Alpine and Sauber makes him the cheapest and easiest logistical option. But therein lies the risk — is this not just another Colapinto scenario waiting to happen?

Nevertheless, in a sport that is increasingly obsessed with youth and potential, Aron could be Alpine’s attempt to change the narrative by giving the next rookie a chance before his confidence is damaged by the midfield malaise.

If nothing else, the fact that Aron’s name is being mentioned is a sure sign that Alpine isn’t just looking to resolve their driver issue, they’re considering a complete strategic reset.

Piastri further ‘investigations’ British GP

 

Flavio’s Fingerprints and the Plot Beyond Spa

Make no mistake: Flavio Briatore’s fingerprints are all over this mess. The flamboyant former Renault boss was brought back to Alpine not for his charm or subtlety, both of which are questionable, but for his track record in reshaping underperforming teams through sheer force of will and creative chaos.

With Alpine sitting dead last in the constructors’ standings and morale lower than Haas’s budget meetings, Briatore’s task is clear: rip it up and start again. Colapinto may be the first domino to fall, but there’s a strong sense that more heads will roll before the team even considers Spa.

Whether Alpine wants a safe fallback, a romantic revival or a surprise shake-up, one thing is certain: Colapinto’s time looks to be up.

 

So, who gets the nod?

Is it the seasoned calm of Bottas? The steady but uninspiring hands of Doohan? Or the frustrated potential of Drugovich? Or will they take an all-in gamble on a rookie reboot with Paul Aron?

Let us know what you think. Who should Alpine pick to replace Colapinto, and does it even matter until the team builds a competitive car? Comment below and let the paddock politics begin.

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