Why have Alpine promoted Colapinto? Ferrari fortunes to change? – 2025 Emilia Romagna GP Preview with Rob Smedley + Lawrence Barretto
F1 Nation
Formula 1
4.4 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 May 2025
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Why have Alpine swapped rookie Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races? How does this opportunity compare to Franco’s nine races with Williams last season? And after the shock resignation of Team Principal Oliver Oakes, what sort of person will Alpine be looking for to replace him?
The guys also chat all things Ferrari ahead of their first home race of the season and Lewis Hamilton’s first Italian race in red. After their challenging start to the season, are their fortunes likely to change in the upcoming triple header? Having had many similar situations on the pit wall during his career, Rob shares his thoughts on their team orders in Miami and why he thinks Hamilton’s team radio was a good sign for the Scuderia.
George Russell is just six points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship, so is he a title contender? Should Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff give Russell a new contract, even if Max Verstappen is available?
Plus, Rob gives his view of Williams’ progress over the last 12 months. How do they take the next step of finishing on the podium?
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It was clear that there was somebody else waiting in the wings and it was only a matter |
| 0:06.3 | of time, right? I mean, it was going to happen. This time he's going into the car, knowing he has |
| 0:10.9 | to do a certain level of performance to prove to the team he deserves to keep that seat. |
| 0:16.1 | How do you find another one like Ollie who's going to work really well and really close to him with Flavio. |
| 0:21.8 | Not an easy one. |
| 0:22.5 | There was a lot of radio chat in Miami. |
| 0:24.8 | Rob, maybe you're the guy to comment on this, given your radio chat, and I'm thinking of Hock and I'm 2010. |
| 0:29.8 | Oh my God, why are you bringing that up? |
| 0:33.0 | Williams need to step up in all areas to be able to accommodate the driver of his statue. But it's good to |
| 0:39.1 | see that they're not going to be happy with mediocre performances anymore. If we think Max is still |
| 0:44.8 | in the title fight, does that mean George Russell is a title contender as well? I mean mathematically, |
| 0:51.6 | yes. Would you re-sign George Russell if Max Verstappen is available? |
| 0:56.6 | Oh, that's a very, very tough question. |
| 1:03.2 | Welcome, everyone, to F1 Nation's preview of this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, |
| 1:09.3 | the start of the European leg of the season and our second triple header of the year. |
| 1:14.6 | Oscar Piastri leads the championship by 16 points, having won four of the six races to date. |
| 1:20.9 | Can he win at Imola for the first time? |
| 1:23.1 | Or will Lando Norris steal back the momentum? |
| 1:26.5 | Or will Imola Maestro Max Verstappen take his fourth consecutive win at the track? |
| 1:33.4 | There's lots to discuss and joining me, Tom Clarkson, is F1 correspondent and presenter |
| 1:38.5 | Lawrence Beretto and former Jordan Ferrari and Williams engineer Rob Smedley. |
| 1:44.2 | Guys, great to have you both on the show. |
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