In the lead-up to the São Paulo Grand Prix, Alpine has extended the contract of Franco Colapinto. After an inconsistent season, the French racing team decided to retain the young Argentine. Senior advisor Flavio Briatore previously admitted that he had to choose between Colapinto and test and reserve driver Paul Aron. In Brazil, he and team boss Steve Nielsen were again asked about the line-up for 2026. What ultimately tipped the balance in favor of Colapinto?
Colapinto inherited the seat from Jack Doohan after six Grands Prix. During the race weekend in Imola, he took to the track in Alpine colors for the first time, following several appearances for Williams in 2024. The Argentine had a lackluster weekend and finished in a disappointing sixteenth place. Since then, he has not advanced beyond P13 and has yet to score points for the French team. However, Alpine has seen clear progress in recent weeks.
Sponsorship Money
“Formula 1 is a challenge for all new drivers,” team boss Steve Nielsen told Sky Sports. “Some perform well right away, others struggle a bit. Colapinto drove for Williams last year, but to be honest, he had a tough start this year. Gradually, however, things started to improve. We’re fortunate to have Pierre Gasly as a kind of standard-bearer – an experienced driver. Little by little, Colapinto was able to measure up to him. He became comparable to Gasly and was even faster a few times. Ultimately, that earned him his seat.”
Analyst and former racer Martin Brundle suggested that the financial aspect also played a role. Colapinto brings with him several wealthy sponsors, including e-commerce giant Mercado Libre. The Argentine company has recently appeared on the Alpine cars. “You can’t ignore the financial side, of course,” Nielsen admitted. “It plays a role, but ultimately we see Colapinto primarily as a talent. The fact that he brings sponsorship money is just a welcome bonus.”
Maturing
Senior advisor Flavio Briatore, who previously publicly criticized Colapinto, admitted that the Argentine has impressively bounced back. “For young guys, it’s hard to immediately deal with the pressure from sponsors and the team,” he told F1.com. “Unfortunately, our car is not that strong – it’s difficult to drive. Colapinto was a bit lost in the beginning; he needed three or four races to improve. If you compare him to his first performances, you see a completely different driver.”
“He acts much more confidently, shows more dedication to the technique, and does everything to perform,” Briatore elaborated. “He spends a lot of time understanding the car. In the last two or three Grands Prix, the team underperformed, but Colapinto himself was excellent.” The Italian is therefore satisfied with the current line-up of Alpine. “We now have two drivers who work together as a team. Colapinto really feels part of Alpine. Previously, Pierre Gasly carried the team on his shoulders, but now they share the burdens. I have seen Colapinto grow into a mature driver – someone with more responsibility.”
