Team principal James Vowles reaffirmed his belief that the Argentine driver "is my driver that I want back in that car" ...

Alpine’s reserve driver Franco Colapinto has been heralded by Flavio Briatore as a key figure for the Enstone-based outfit.

Franco Colapinto ... His season tailed off with a number of incidents and, as a result, he was forced to run older parts amid Williams’ shortage issues. Colapinto’s rocky end to the season ...

Colapinto, 21, turned heads last summer by scoring in two of nine races after replacing American Logan Sargeant at Williams.

"But ultimately, Franco is my driver that I want back in that car ... say over whether Colapinto would race for Alpine. "He is with Alpine and he's an Alpine driver for a number of years.

The Williams team boss stressed that Colapinto was ready to step in an F1 car. He said: "I think he's ready to step straight in. "It's an Alpine decision, but Franco, as he left me, is fired-up ...