In the lead-up to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, test and reserve driver Franco Colapinto was given a seat at Alpine, replacing a struggling Jack Doohan. Initially, Executive Team Principal Flavio Briatore was very positive about Colapinto, who had already made his mark in Formula 1 as a stand-in at Williams. However, after a first trio of races with the French team, Briatore is far from satisfied – it is not ruled out that Colapinto may also be replaced.
“He (Colapinto) crashed right away during the first race weekend,” Flavio Briatore told the German branch of Sky Sports. “If I were to say I was happy, I would be lying. I am not satisfied at all. Now we have to wait and see how the season develops.” So far, Colapinto has not advanced beyond the thirteenth place on the grid – and thus has not yet brought in any World Championship points for Alpine. The team, through Pierre Gasly, has scored only eleven points and is firmly at the bottom of the constructors’ championship.
“Of course, we must also acknowledge that Colapinto is very young and is under great pressure from all sides, not just from Argentina,” Briatore added. “He needs to find his groove slowly. He is now spending a lot of time in the factory and in the simulator.” If the 22-year-old Argentine cannot find his groove, it is not ruled out that Alpine will experiment with other drivers. Briatore is determined to start winning races from 2026 and to compete for the title in 2027. Which drivers he will deploy for this is still unknown. He has previously hinted that Pierre Gasly has not yet convinced him either.
