Argentine race driver Franco Colapinto tested for Alpine in Monza over the weekend, fueling talk of a return to F1. Still, fans will have to wait at least until May for the Argentine’s potential return to the grid.  

The Argentine racer had been at every Formula One race this season. However, he missed the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday to take part in Alpine’s Testing of Previous Cars run, where drivers put cars at least two seasons old on the track.

These exercises allow reserve drivers to get track time and understand how the current car performs —  it’s rare for teams to completely change their cars season to season — and give teams a chance to gather data and compare their performance with what current drivers are doing.

Colapinto did extended runs using soft and hard tyre compounds. The soft compounds are faster but degrade more quickly, while the hard ones provide less grip but allow for longer runs. This means Alpine collected plenty of data on his short-stint speed and consistency over longer runs.

He wasn’t the only Alpine reserve driver taking part in tests. Estonia’s Paul Aron joined him in Monza for his own testing of previous cars run, while Japan’s Ryō Hirakawa took part in a Free Practice 1 at his home Grand Prix.

Colapinto’s potential return, however, hinges on Alpine swapping him for one of their two main drivers. The main candidate to get the sack is Australian rookie Jack Doohan, who had reportedly signed a six-race contract with Alpine. He completed one in the 2024 campaign and three in the current season. 

That gave fans hope that the Argentine driver could feature in the Miami GP, the sixth race of this calendar year, given the Australian’s struggles so far this season.

Doohan is yet to finish in the point-awarding top-10 positions, coming 19th in the season opener at the Australian GP, then 15th in both China and Japan. He’s so far been outperformed by French teammate Pierre Gasly, who is also yet to score points, having narrowly missed out in Australia and China.

Doohan made headlines over the weekend when he crashed heavily into the 130R turn, a fast, sweeping left-hander, during the Free Practice 2. He attempted to take the turn without closing his car’s DRS device, an aerodynamic tool that temporarily reduces the vehicle’s downforce and grip. Doohan reportedly tried it after pulling off the maneuver on the team’s simulator.

“There is a little bit of uneasiness, of course,” Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes said on Sky Deutschland after the crash. “Jack is working well, so far so good. He is keeping calm and focusing on himself. There are a lot of rumors about Franco, but for now we are satisfied.” 

Moreover, last Monday Oppenheim Group founder Jason Oppenheim announced a sponsorship deal with Doohan for the Miami GP in May, ensuring his participation at least until then.