Franco Colapinto Secures Major Alpine Boost with Key Sergio Pérez Sponsor Deal

Franco Colapinto, the young Argentine driver currently competing with the Alpine F1 Team, has taken a significant step in bolstering his position within the sport by securing a personal sponsorship deal with Claro, a telecommunications giant that has long-standing ties to former Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Pérez. This development comes at a pivotal moment for Colapinto, who is striving to solidify his future in Formula 1 amid speculation that Alpine may consider bringing in experienced talent like Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas for the 2026 season.

Colapinto first captured attention during a nine-race stint with Williams in the latter half of the 2024 season. His performances were impressive enough to earn him a reserve role with Alpine for the 2025 campaign. However, he quickly moved into a race seat after the Miami Grand Prix, stepping in for Jack Doohan as Pierre Gasly’s teammate. Initially given a five-race contract, Colapinto has since been retained on a race-by-race basis following the expiration of his original deal after the Austrian Grand Prix. This arrangement gives Alpine flexibility while allowing Colapinto to continue proving his worth on track.

The sponsorship from Claro—a company owned by billionaire Carlos Slim through América Móvil—represents more than just financial backing. It also brings valuable brand recognition and marketing power to Colapinto’s growing profile. Claro’s branding will appear on his crash helmet and cap, marking a visible endorsement of the young driver’s potential.

“I am happy to have partnered with Claro – América Móvil – and to enjoy their support this year,” Colapinto said. “Claro’s dedication to connectivity and innovation mirrors everything we push for on track: precision, speed, and seamless performance. I’m proud to unite our brands and bring a bit of that Latin America to every grand prix.”

Julio Porras Zadik, CEO of Claro Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We have been present in this sport for several years and now we return together with BWT Alpine Formula One Team. We are very excited to support Franco at this key moment.”

This sponsorship deal is particularly meaningful given Claro’s history with Sergio Pérez, who was left without an F1 seat for the 2025 season after parting ways with Red Bull Racing. The telecom brand supported Pérez from his early days in Sauber through his successful tenure at Red Bull. However, according to Carlos Slim, any new arrangements with Colapinto would not interfere with Pérez’s legacy or ongoing relationship with the company.

“We have been with many drivers many times,” Slim stated in late 2024. “We were with Bruno Senna, Pietro Fittipaldi, and the two Mexican drivers, Checo [Pérez] and Esteban Gutierrez. If there was an opportunity to talk about something with Franco, it would not be anything related to Checo. We always seek to support Latin American drivers.”

Meanwhile, both Bottas and Pérez remain in the conversation for potential returns to F1, particularly with Cadillac’s entry in 2026. Pérez, who has also been linked with a comeback to Alpine, remains focused on reclaiming his place on the grid. However, insiders confirm that he is not under consideration as a mid-season replacement for Colapinto in 2025.

For now, all eyes are on how Colapinto performs over the remainder of the 2025 season. With a growing fanbase, strong performances, and now corporate backing from a major international brand, the 21-year-old is positioning himself as a serious contender in F1—not just for 2025, but potentially for years to come.