Franco Colapinto has expressed satisfaction with the ‘tough approach’ of Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore. The Italian has been at the helm of the French racing team since the departure of Oliver Oakes, and is among those deciding on the driver selection for next year. Colapinto is still waiting to see if he will be Briatore’s preferred choice, as he has not yet scored any World Championship points in 2025. The Italian referred to the Argentine’s performance as ‘disappointing’, but Colapinto has no issues with Briatore’s approach: ‘It has even made me mentally stronger’.
Franco Colapinto was brought into Alpine as a reserve driver last December, after having driven for Williams for half a season. The Argentine didn’t have to stand on the sidelines for long. Even before the GP Emilia-Romagna, the French team decided to replace Jack Doohan with Colapinto. The driver has not been able to make a significant impact since then. Advisor Flavio Briatore even referred to Colapinto’s results as ‘disappointing’.
Mental Strength Gained from Rigorous Training
The driver, however, has no issue with Briatore’s tough approach, believing it has made him stronger. “I have a good relationship with Flavio,” Colapinto candidly shares in the Beyond the Grid podcast. “He is strict with everyone. His way of making the team work and motivating people can sometimes be a bit harsh and can sometimes be a bit too much if you don’t know him. But he is someone I truly believe in and someone who, in my opinion, will help this team get back to the top. He has made me mentally stronger. I am, of course, very grateful for the opportunity he has given me, but also for the entire process we have gone through together.”
Colapinto is the last driver on the current grid still waiting for his first World Championship points of the season. As a result, his seat for 2026 is not yet secure. Briatore has previously indicated that the final choice will be between the Argentine and reserve driver Paul Aron. For now, Colapinto prefers to focus on the current season. “I want to keep improving this year. There is still so much to learn. I already feel much better in the car and in the team. It’s no secret that the car is not yet as we would like it to be, but we can score points with it. My focus at the moment is to take each race as it comes, and then we’ll see where we end up.”
