Colapinto on the brink? Herbert warns Alpine driver could be 'forgotten name'

The Argentine was brought in as a reserve driver for the French team for the 2025 season after leaving Williams at the end of the 2024 season, impressing at the British team after replacing Logan Sargeant, with plenty of praise from Flavio Briatore when the 22-year-old joined.

After just six Grands Prix as a reserve driver, Colapinto was then brought in to race alongside Pierre Gasly, replacing Doohan after the Australian scored zero points in his first six races of the season.

Originally, the Argentine was to have until the British Grand Prix to show what he could do behind the wheel, before Briatore then contradicted those previous statements. However, the Italian advisor has also mentioned that Colapinto's future at Alpine hinges "on his performances".

Since replacing Doohan at the French team, Colapinto has only been able to finish as high as P13 in his first three Grands Prix, not making the impression that many might have expected when he rejoined the grid.

“It’s always a difficult one," Herbert started by saying to a betting site on the topic of Colapinto's recent form.

“Flavio Briatore put a lot of faith into Colapinto and has thrown him into Alpine. You would expect Colapinto’s performances to be better with the standard he set last season," continued the former steward and F1 pundit.

As a result, Herbert believes a change in fortunes for the Argentine is needed, or he may be leaving the pinnacle of motorsport as quickly as he arrived.

"We never saw Doohan able to bounce back, Colapinto needs to bounce back soon, or he will become a name that was highly thought of and nothing more,” concluded the Briton.