Franco Colapinto, a 21-year-old gem from Argentina, is setting the Formula 1 world abuzz! With his brilliant performance on the Alpine simulation machine, he left engineers and fans unable to sit still. Colapinto’s virtual races are not only fast but also surprisingly accurate, breaking all internal records and putting him in the spotlight. Rumor has it that Alpine, a renowned racing team from Enstone, has decided to give him an official race in the 2025 season, a dramatic turning point for this young driver’s career.

Only joining Alpine as a reserve earlier this year, Colapinto quickly proved his worth. During test sessions in Barcelona with the A525, he outpaced his teammate Jack Doohan by a gap of two to ten seconds per second, an incredible number in the world of F1, where thousands of seconds are valuable. “Franco is doing very well,” commented Alpine Technical Director David Sanchez. “He brings valuable data from the simulation machine, helping us optimize the car in real time.” These contributions helped Alpine make significant progress, such as Pierre Gasly’s fourth-place finish on the opening grid in Bahrain.

The pressure is on Jack Doohan, the current factory driver, who has failed to live up to expectations due to a series of costly errors and accidents. In contrast, Colapinto, with nine race experience with Williams heading into 2024, displays maturity and formidable speed. He once scored on his second start in Azerbaijan, a rare miracle for a rookie. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor and the man behind the deal to bring Colapinto to the team, didn’t hesitate to trust him. “Franco is one of the best young talents,” Briatore once said.

Argentine fans are awash with excitement, waiting for the moment Colapinto steps onto the podium with a blue and white flag. His social media posts are always a storm, from traditional couple photos to videos showing off his skillful skills on the simulation machine. Although Alpine hasn’t officially confirmed it, an insider source revealed that the race at Imola in May could be where Colapinto launches himself as a factory driver. With his explosive talent and the support of major sponsors, Colapinto is not only Alpine’s hope but also the next flame of Formula 1. Let’s wait and see how he continues to write this magical story!