Juan Pablo Montoya has noticed Alpine now ‘don’t mention’ F1 hopeful as Franco Colapinto decision nears

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Franco Colapinto is fighting for his future in Formula 1 as he struggles to find results at Alpine in 2025.

The Argentine replaced Jack Doohan after six races in 2025, where the Aussie had failed to score points for the Enstone outfit. Four races into his second stint in F1, Colapinto is faring little better than his predecessor.

The 21-year-old is yet to score for Alpine as the team sits bottom of the constructors’ championship with just 11 points. Colapinto is in a ‘critical phase’ in F1, as the team alluded to the idea that he only has five races to prove himself before they assess their driver pool at Silverstone.

Rosberg feared Colapinto was ‘driving for his future’ at the Canadian GP. The Argentine responded by outqualifying teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time and beating him in the race to finish P13; his joint-best result of the year.

But Karun Chandhok thinks Alpine have downgraded their line-up, claiming Colapinto has been a step down on Doohan. The 21-year-old is under increasing pressure to keep his seat, but Juan Pablo Montoya has noticed one possible replacement has been completely forgotten about.

Juan Pablo Montoya notices Alpine ‘don’t mention’ Paul Aron anymore since Oliver Oakes left the team

Reserve driver Paul Aron has been tipped as the next in line to get his chance in F1 if Colapinto fails to impress with Alpine. However, Montoya has noticed the Estonian has not been in the conversation for some time.

Speaking via AS Colombia, he suspects that former team principal Oliver Oakes was ‘pushing hard’ for Aron to get a shot. Montoya says the 21-year-old is not mentioned by Alpine anymore since his departure.

“Paul Aron is still there, but the big difference between Paul Aron at this moment and Franco is that Paul doesn’t have the financial support that Franco has, he doesn’t have the economic force behind him and that makes a difference.

“So, I don’t know, it’s because we’re going back to the same thing, it’s that he’s looking for that. And one thing that Paul doesn’t like, that Paul has already lost a lot, is that the person who was pushing for Paul was Oliver Oakes.

“Without Ollie Oakes, things are going to be a little bit different. Since Ollie Oakes left, you don’t hear anything, they don’t mention him, it’s not part of the conversation at all.

“So I think Ollie was someone who was pushing hard for Paul.”

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron? All to know from age to racing stats

What are Paul Aron’s chances of replacing Franco Colapinto at Alpine in 2025?

Aron is highly rated by Alpine, with his work behind the scenes in TPC tests and the simulator proving valuable to their operation. Fans suspect Aron is being prepared for F1 after he was given an outing at Monza alongside Doohan and F2 driver Kush Maini.

But it does not seem the Enstone outfit plan to make another driver change anytime soon. Flavio Briatore shut down ‘garbage’ rumours that Colapinto would be replaced after the Canadian GP.

Briatore has repeatedly stressed that the Argentine needs time to perform; something that he did not afford to Doohan. Even though the boss has reiterated his commitment to Colapinto, it has not stopped the team from being linked with other potential candidates.

Sergio Perez has held talks with Alpine as he looks to return to the grid in 2026. However, Perez is not an option to replace Colapinto, as he appears to have his sights set on a move to Cadillac.