Franco Colapinto is battling to save his Formula 1 career after a series of poor performances since replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine just six rounds into the season

Franco Colapinto has endured a tough spell with Alpine(Image: Jayce Illman/Getty Images)

Franco Colapinto’s father has hit back at social media trolls for targeting the under-pressure Alpine driver in the wake of his Silverstone nightmare. Colapinto, who impressed during his brief stint at Williams last season, replaced Jack Doohan in the Renault-owned team just six rounds in 2025.

However, he is now under pressure himself after a string of underwhelming performances and crashes. Colapinto had a disastrous weekend at the British Grand Prix, crashing in Q1 and then starting the race from the pitlane.

With the track wet but drying, he was among the drivers to gamble by pitting for slicks at the end of the formation lap. However, he failed to re-emerge from the pits due to what the team called a ‘driveline’ issue.

It was unclear whether the car or Colapinto was to blame for the issue. The weekend came at the worst possible time for the 22-year-old, who could be replaced, with Alpine approaching Mercedes over the availability of vastly experienced reserve driver Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn, a long-time teammate of Lewis Hamilton before being replaced by George Russell in 2022, is eager to get back into a race seat after being dropped by Sauber at the end of last season.

Colapinto after crashing in qualifying at Silverstone(Image: Getty)

He could get the chance at Alpine this season, potentially before the summer break, which begins after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the beginning of August.

Given Colapinto’s struggles, he has come in for stinging criticism from trolls on social media, prompting his dad, Anibal, to hit back. Colapinto Sr posted on Instagram: “Don’t feel bad when someone speaks ill of you. Remember that successful people are criticized by mediocre and envious people.”

Adding to Colapinto’s Silverstone frustration, he saw Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly take an excellent sixth place. The Argentine said: “I’m sad and frustrated for having ended the weekend like this, which had started well compared to Pierre, and I’m a bit sad about how it ended.

“It was a good race seeing everything that happened: the rain, tyre changes, and all the weather conditions that made the race changeable.

Valtteri Bottas is ready to replace Colapinto(Image: Getty)

“I think during this weekend I was faster than Pierre and seeing where he is now finishing, maybe we had a good opportunity. We have to keep working focused on what’s coming, but it’s a shame not being able to even start. It makes me very angry.

“There were many opportunities. I would have loved to be in the race and try something. A bit of frustration for not even being able to start is something no driver wants.”

It remains to be seen whether Colapinto will still be in the car when the F1 season resumes with the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa at the end of July.