In an unexpected twist that has shaken up the Formula 1 paddock, Franco Colapinto, the young Argentinian driver, delivered a stellar performance in a private Alpine test at the Zandvoort circuit, putting his teammate Pierre Gasly to shame. This event, which took place last Wednesday, not only marked a milestone in Colapinto’s preparation for his debut as a starter at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but also set off alarm bells within the French team, which now faces crucial questions about its lineup and strategy for the remainder of the 2025 season.

The test, conducted with an Alpine A523 from the 2023 season, was part of the team’s scheduled Pre-Car Testing (TPC) sessions. Although initially kept secret, social media was soon flooded with images and videos confirming Colapinto’s presence on the Dutch track. While on Tuesday it was Japanese driver Ritomo Miyata who drove, on Wednesday it was the Argentine’s turn, who didn’t waste the opportunity to showcase his talent. According to sources close to the team, Colapinto not only achieved impressive lap times, but also consistently surpassed the records set by Gasly in previous simulations with the same car, making an immediate impact on Alpine’s leadership.

Colapinto’s performance comes at a critical time for the team. After a disappointing start to the season, with Gasly’s seventh-place finish in Bahrain the only notable result, the team has been under pressure to improve the A525’s performance. The decision to replace Jack Doohan with Colapinto, officially confirmed after the test, responds to the need for a revival to boost results. However, what few expected was that the Argentine, in his first official test as a regular, would challenge the experienced Gasly, a driver with more than 140 Grands Prix starts and a track record that includes a victory at Monza in 2020.

The contrast between the two drivers did not go unnoticed. While Gasly, considered the team’s star, has struggled with lack of grip and setup issues in recent races, Colapinto showed immediate adaptation to the car, executing pit stops with precision and completing over 120 minutes of lap time without errors. The fans present at Zandvoort were quick to celebrate the Argentine, who signed autographs and posed with sky blue and white flags, consolidating his growing popularity.

This test not only reinforces Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore’s commitment to Colapinto’s emerging talent, but also raises questions about Gasly’s future with the team. With the Argentine confirmed for the next five races, including technical circuits like Monaco and Spa, the pressure is now on the Frenchman to prove his worth. For his part, Colapinto, with just nine F1 races under his belt with Williams in 2024, seems poised to seize this opportunity to establish himself as one of motorsport’s brightest prospects.

The Imola Grand Prix, scheduled for May 16-18, will be the stage where Colapinto will look to translate his performance at Zandvoort into concrete results. Meanwhile, Alpine faces the challenge of aligning its strategy to maximize the potential of its new duo. What happened in the Dutch dunes wasn’t just a test: it was a statement of intent from a driver ready to change the rules of the game in Formula 1.