Alpine now ‘don’t want to know’ about signing 39-podium driver to replace Franco Colapinto

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Alpine have had a torrid 2025 Formula 1 season and look set to exit the current era of the sport with a whimper.

Going into the summer break, Alpine sit bottom of the constructors’ championship and are showing no signs of catching any of their rivals.

Before the season started, Alpine and Williams were tipped to be the best of the rest below the top four constructors.

James Vowles’ team have lived up to those expectations, and despite concentrating all of their resources on 2026, they’ve scored 70 points compared to Alpine’s 20.

All of those points have come courtesy of Pierre Gasly, with his sixth-place finish at Silverstone the highlight so far.

On the other side of the garage, things haven’t gone to plan.

Jack Doohan was dropped after just six races, and his replacement, Franco Colapinto, hasn’t fared any better.

Neither driver has scored a point in 2025, which has led to speculation about another driver change potentially taking place.

However, it seems as though one viable candidate has been ruled out of the conversation.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Alpine ‘don’t want to know’ about signing Sergio Perez to replace Franco Colapinto

Journalist Julianne Cerasoli has been keeping a careful eye on the F1 driver market this season.

Alpine aren’t the only team yet to confirm their driver pairing for 2026, and speaking initially about Cadillac’s ambitions, she said: “Going down a part of experience and youth, Felipe [Drugovich] has a good chance.

“What I heard this weekend is that things with Felipe were very heated a few weeks ago, and today they’re not so heated, but they’re also at this point, trying to understand precisely where they’re going.

“[If they want] two experienced drivers, and they will go with Perez, and I also confirmed this weekend that Perez is interested.

“I thought he’d be more interested in Alpine, but it seems that Alpine don’t want to know about Sergio Perez.

“So, the only realistic option for him to return to the grid is Cadillac.

“So, he’s coming back strong to negotiate with Cadillac.”

READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Who are Alpine’s options for the 2026 Formula 1 season to partner Pierre Gasly?

There are a number of drivers Alpine could consider alongside Gasly for next year; however, no one candidate stands out at this point.

Colapinto’s management are reaching out to WEC and IndyCar teams, suggesting that they’re not entirely confident he’ll be handed a longer-term contract for 2026.

Alex Jacques told F1 Oversteer that nobody would want to be in Colapinto’s position right now, as he’s still performing on a race-by-race basis.

They could return to Doohan, although if they lost faith with him after six races this year, it’s hard to see Flavio Briatore giving him a second chance.

Paul Aron is highly rated at Alpine, but doesn’t seem to be the strongest option if the Anglo-French team have already been stung by two younger drivers.

Sergio Perez, who has 39 F1 podiums to his name, might not be a viable option either if Cadillac come calling, even if his experience would be invaluable to the team.

Even Valtteri Bottas appears to prefer a move to Cadillac, and so the second Alpine seat could end up being the final piece in the 2026 F1 jigsaw puzzle before next season begins.