Franco Colapinto has been confirmed for Alpine’s 2026 driver line-up, ending months of speculation about his future. Alpine determined that Colapinto is performing at a high enough level to justify another season with the team.
It should be noted, despite the rumours surrounding Colapinto, that he signed a multi-year agreement with Alpine in January.
This is why Jack Doohan’s days at Alpine were always seen as numbered – with the French outfit negotiating for months to sign Colapinto from Williams. Of course, breaking the Argentine from his contract prematurely came at the price of millions of pounds.
From this perspective, it was always unlikely that a new name would partner Pierre Gasly in 2026. Despite this, Alpine made sure to carefully consider their final decision.
Franco Colapinto earned new contract “on talent” say Alpine
Colapinto’s F1 comeback was initially difficult, as a combination of mistakes and underwhelming performances impacted his market value.
Flavio Briatore wasted no time in calling for the 22-year-old to improve, as the team assessed his future. In many ways, Briatore’s remarks are what created so much uncertainty about Alpine’s duo for 2026.
Still, it is clear that Alpine – despite their investment into the Argentine – wanted him to earn his seat. This is why Colapinto remained firmly under the microscope even after the summer break.
The #43 car responded to this spotlight with solid performances, regularly matching Pierre Gasly’s output.
Whilst the A525 has lacked the pace for Colapinto to have chances to score points consistently, direct comparisons against his more experienced teammate point a positive image. In the context of not having any pre-season, Alpine’s newest signing responded well.
Team principal Steve Nielsen explained to Sky F1 the factors behind extending Colapinto’s deal:
“Franco obviously did some races with Williams last year, substituted for Jack from Imola – and struggled a bit to start with, to be honest.
“Then, gradually, and we’re lucky to have Pierre as a kind of marker, an established driver, Franco was able to up his game and take the fight to Pierre. And in a car that’s not as competitive as we would like.
“But nonetheless, when you compare them to each other, he started doing a reasonable job and became comparable to Pierre – even quicker than Pierre on a few occasions. So ultimately, that’s what got him the seat.
“You can’t ignore the financials. Of course, it plays a part in it.
“But ultimately, we’ve got Franco on talent. The fact that he brings a financial side is a happy accident.”
Alpine with something to prove in 2026
Aside from Paul Aron, whose experience in F1 machinery has been limited to a few tests and Free Practice sessions, there were no obvious alternatives to Colapinto.
In this sense, Alpine have silenced rumours which – in many ways – could have been prevented from taking root. For the next few months at least, there should be less noise and speculation surrounding the French outfit.
Unlike the front-runners, and even some midfield outfits like Aston Martin or even Williams, expectations for the Enstone-based operation are relatively low ahead of 2026. They certainly are not among the favourites to lead the pack.
However, this does not mean there are not ambitious targets being set internally. After several years of regression, there is a lot at stake in Alpine’s development for the next generation of cars.
Main photo: Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images (Alpine Media Gallery)
