What people in the F1 press centre said about Franco Colapinto’s Alpine future after difficult Belgian Grand Prix

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Franco Colapinto is currently on the longest pointless streak of any active driver in Formula 1 right now.

Oliver Bearman had failed to score a point since the race in Bahrain before finishing seventh in the Sprint Race at the Belgian Grand Prix.

That ended a run of eight race weekends without increasing his tally, leaving Franco Colapinto’s seven Grand Prix without troubling the scorers as the worst record in the paddock.

He’s now had one more opportunity than Jack Doohan, who he replaced at Alpine at Imola, to contribute to the Anglo-French team’s cause.

Pierre Gasly has been superb this season, and his 10th-place finish on Sunday added another point to Alpine’s tally, although they still sit bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Colapinto is coming under increasing pressure at Alpine, with a host of drivers potentially available to replace him.

Journalist Molly Hudson was in the press centre after the race at Spa, and in a conversation with Christian Hewgill, explained how the media sees the Argentine’s future with the summer break approaching.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know

Franco Colapinto’s Alpine future under pressure after tricky Belgian Grand Prix

Speaking on The Fast and The Curious Podcast, Hewgill gave his thoughts on the 22-year-old’s weekend after two Q1 exits and a P19 finish in Sunday’s race.

He said: “I think Colapinto’s under huge, huge pressure and might be facing one of those weekends in Hungary where he’s got to show serious improvement.

“Flavio Briatore does not want to come last in the constructors’ championship. Alpine, the size of that team, do not want to come last.

“Franco Colapinto, seven races in, there’s been no improvement at all from Jack Doohan.

“I just feel like they put Jack in that car, never fully believing in Jack, immediately there were rumours he was going to be replaced, so I actually think, if they stuck with Jack Doohan, he was showing a bit that he might have improved by now.

“I can see them either bringing Jack back, or I certainly don’t think that a loan move for Valtteri Bottas to the end of the year, would be a bad idea.”

Hudson replied: “I think the sort of chatter in the press room was very similar to what you’ve just said there.

“It was, ‘Well, hang on a minute, this is definitely no better and probably worse than Jack Doohan.’

“I think it’s tricky anyway for both of them because when you’re in a system that gives you five races, or whatever, I don’t think that gets the best out of either of them.

“Had you put Franco in at the start of the season, and he’d had pre-season to prepare, came in, etc. would he have done better after being thrown in during the middle of a season in the mild chaos of Alpine?

“Maybe he also would have done better. At the moment, I don’t think it’s the easiest environment for any of the drivers.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we maybe saw Jack Doohan after the summer break. It feels like that break in the season that would give them a good opportunity to make that move.”

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

Valtteri Bottas unlikely to take Franco Colapinto’s Alpine seat despite potential offer

One of the names who has been closely linked with replacing Colapinto is Valtteri Bottas.

It’s unlikely to see Doohan replace Colapinto, with another young reserve driver, Paul Aron, potentially in line to be given his chance to step up. The Estonian will hope to impress during an FP1 run with Sauber at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, the Finn is the biggest name in the running to potentially return to the grid with Flavio Briatore’s team, as Alpine have reportedly put an offer on the table for Bottas.

However, Bottas is said to have little interest in replacing Colapinto, especially as he could have a seat at Cadillac waiting for him.

That’s a worrying sign for Alpine that a driver may prefer to join a brand new outfit than them, but their position in the constructors’ championship and Colapinto’s struggles doesn’t make them the most enticing option at this moment.