Colapinto starts from zero at Alpine after Williams debut

IMOLA, Italy :Argentine Franco Colapinto said he would be starting from scratch after replacing Australian Jack Doohan at Renault-owned Alpine from this weekend's Emilia-Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at Italy's Imola circuit.

Colapinto, 21, still counts as a rookie despite racing nine times for Williams at the end of last season after replacing American Logan Sargeant.

"Everything is new again. We start from zero," he told reporters on Thursday. "Of course, it's never nice circumstances when it happens like this, when you step in another driver's seat, but you never really choose the moment you do it in Formula One. I just take it, try to do my best and try to maximise it for the job."

Colapinto scored five points for Williams and triggered a wave of enthusiasm in Argentina after becoming his country's first driver on the grid in 23 years.

His return doubles the South American presence, with Sauber's Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto the sole representative for the first six races.

Colapinto said he felt a bit 'rusty' and that five races, the number he has so far been told he has before further assessment by the team, would not be enough to get fully up to speed in an unfamiliar car.

He has been busy in the simulator and drove an older Alpine F1 car last week at the Dutch Grand Prix circuit at Zandvoort.

The Argentine made his debut with Williams at Monza last year and was delighted his comeback was at Imola, another Italian circuit with good memories from junior series.

"I’m much more relaxed. I’ve had the experience of racing, I’ve had the experience of being in a race weekend with a different team," he said of the difference between his Williams debut and now.

"I still have that feeling — I’ve been racing in December, so