Fernando Alonso has just made a Franco Colapinto ‘pressure’ statement that couldn’t be further from the truth

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Fernando Alonso made his Formula 1 debut nearly a quarter of a century ago at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.

Nowadays, a 43-year-old Alonso is issuing warnings to the latest crop of drivers to descend on the grid in 2025.

He’s one of few drivers yet to score a point so far this season and has suffered at the hands of a poor Aston Martin car.

His hopes may be on whether Adrian Newey can work a miracle ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations and help him return to the top step of the podium one last time before retirement.

He will have a new midfield rival this weekend and over the next five races, as Franco Colapinto arrives at Alpine.

Colapinto had to wait for an Alpine promotion and has been off the grid for six races. Now he gets another big shot.

READ MORE: James Vowles explains what ‘specifically’ surprised him about Alpine’s decision to promote Franco Colapinto at Imola

Fernando Alonso’s ‘pressure’ statement about Franco Colapinto couldn’t be further from the truth

In the early 2000s, Formula 1 went through a lot of drivers. Those who have stood the test of time had to race their hearts out.

Colapinto may be the modern-day equivalent of that. He has just five races to prove himself, or he might be done forever.

Despite his difficult situation, Alonso still thinks that rookies had a tougher deal over 20 years ago, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Most drivers had more than five races to prove their value.

“I don’t think there is much pressure to be honest, there is a lot of preparation, they do Formula 3, they do Formula 2, they know all the circuits, they do simulator, they do TPC programmes, and they get to Formula 1 very well prepared,” Alonso said, according to Motorsport.com.

“When I made my debut in 2001, I did my seat fit only one week before at Minardi because it was bankrupt and we were not going to Melbourne – and then Paul Stoddart bought the team, and we flew to Melbourne on Monday morning. So the pressure of these days is a little bit different.”

READ MORE: Jack Doohan’s contract could see him ‘force’ Alpine to do one thing after being replaced by Franco Colapinto

Why Franco Colapinto faces an especially difficult task to prove his value to Alpine

Not only does Colapinto not have much time to prove himself at the highest level, but he has to do it on tracks that he isn’t that familiar with in Formula 1 machinery.

Doohan had one more race, albeit at unfamiliar circuits, but both drivers deserved a better shot. Who knows what Alpine will do after the next five races are up?

Will they chuck the next reserve in line into the car – Paul Aron? It would be the logical choice if they decide that neither Doohan nor Colapinto are in their future plans.

Maybe they could dip into Formula 2 and look for young talents there. The situation is truly unpredictable and fascinating in its current state.