PostedMay 9, 2025underNews
In an unexpected turn that has shaken the Paddock of Formula 1, Franco Colapinto, the young Argentine pilot, starred in a star performance in a private Alpine test in the Zandvoort circuit, leaving his teammate, Pierre Gasly in evidence. This event, which took place last Wednesday, not only marked a milestone in the preparation of Colapint for his debut as a starter in the Gran Prize of Emilia Romaña, but also lit the alarms within the French team, which now faces crucial questions about its alignment and strategy for the rest of the 2025 season.
The test, carried out with an Alpine A523 of the 2023 season, was part of the previous car testing sessions (TPC) scheduled by the team. Although initially it remained secret, social networks soon flooded with images and videos that confirmed the presence of collapth on the Dutch track. While Tuesday was the Japanese Miyata River who turned, Wednesday was the turn of the Argentine, who did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate his talent. According to sources close to the team, Colapint not only achieved impressive times, but consistently exceeded the records established by Gasly in previous simulations with the same car, generating an immediate impact on the Alpine dome.
Colapint’s performance comes at a critical moment for the team. After a disappointing season, with only a seventh Gasly position in Bahrain as a prominent result, the team has been under pressure to improve A525’s performance. The decision to replace Jack Doohan with Colapinto, officially confirmed after the test, responds to the need for a revulsion that drives the results. However, what few expected was that the Argentine, in his first official test as a holder, put in check the experienced Gasly, a pilot with more than 140 large awards and a history that includes a victory in Monza 2020.
The contrast between both pilots did not go unnoticed. While Gasly, considered the team’s star, has fought with the lack of grip and configuration problems in the last races, Colapinto showed an immediate adaptation to the car, executing stops in precision and completing more than 120 minutes of filming without errors. Fans, present in Zandvoort, did not hesitate to celebrate the Argentine, who signed autographs and posed with celestial and white flags, consolidating his growing popularity.
This test not only reinforces the bet of Flavio Briatore, executive advisor of Alpine, for the emerging talent of Colapinto, but also raises questions about the future of Gasly in the team. With the Argentine confirmed for the next five races, including technical circuits such as Monaco and Spa, the pressure now falls to French to demonstrate his value. For its part, Colapinto, with just nine races in the F1 with Williams in 2024, seems willing to take this opportunity to establish itself as one of the brightest promises of motoring.
The Imola Grand Prix, scheduled for May 16 to 18, will be the scenario where Colapinto will seek to translate its performance in Zandvoort into concrete results. Meanwhile, Alpine faces the challenge of aligning his strategy to maximize the potential of his new pair. What happened in the Dutch dunes was not just a test: it was a declaration of intentions of a pilot who is ready to change the rules of the game in formula 1.
