After months of speculation, Franco Colapinto has finally returned to the network.
Alpine made the change to Super-Sub 2024 after the Miami Grand Prix of Formula 1, leaving aside Jack Doohan and Promotion Colapint Operation based on Estone that has what is needed.
Colapinto aims to “improve performance” in those five races.
“I think as a driver, I’m just trying to go step by step,” Colapinto said at the FIA press conference on Thursday. “I really don’t know the car, so many new things come and I just want to do the right basics and then the results will arrive. I really do not expect any results of results. The performance of the equipment is so tight and changes track to track.
“In the end, in FP1 and FP2, we really do not have a clear vision of where we are. We are still working with the team. The main objective is to make the car faster too. We need to find a lot of performance, and I think that will follow the goal.
Colapinto made a surprising debut on the network last year, intervening in Williams after the team separated from Logan Sargeant. The young pilot ended 12th in his first race, the Italy Grand Prix in Monza, but brought points home in the next race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
He ended at the points twice last year with Williams, with the P8 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and a P10 at the United States Grand Prix.
The driver contrasts the emotion of his debut in 2024, with the atmosphere much more “relaxed” of the current moment.
“I really don’t think it’s such a new. I am much more relaxed. I have had the experience of the races, I have had the experience of being in a race weekend with a different team,” said Colapint. “I still have that feeling: I have bone races in December, so it is not so far. The ax Monza does not feel the same. Monza was a massive emotion, everything was new, it was the first time that it was going to be part of a formula 1 network.
“Here you feel a bit different. It is still my dream come true, so the feelings are the same, but now I want to work with the team. It’s not just about the dream of becoming an F1 pilot, it’s about working towards the objectives of the team,” Colod added. “Obtain good results, consisting of the points, that is what we are because achieving. So, let’s focus on work and see what we can do.”
When asked if this time there was additional pressure on Colapinto, know that he only has five races to demonstrate his worth and with a full -time potential place on the network on the line, the young driver noticed Hey “I simply cannot wait in the car.”
“Last year, everything was new and it was very difficult to enjoy all the information. I think I am only six races behind all those who have bone races already in terms of umolence, related to tires, I just don’t have their knowledge of them.” But I am much closer than last year. Last year I had zero experience. He had had some proof. I just had 300 [kilometers] Or run in a F1 car before driving in Monza. It was much more complicated. I think I felt more pressure there, just because everything was new.
“This year, having that additional experience, having that knowledge of having run in Formula 1 will help me a little. So, I hope you do. Yes, I can’t wait to jump in the car.”
Colapinto jumps in the car later today for FP1, the first of the three practice sessions ahead of Emilia Romagna’s Grand Prix.