Alpine opens door to Franco Colapinto for 2026
The French team has already secured its two drivers for 2025 with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan. However, Flavio Briatore has hinted that Argentine driver Franco Colapinto is being considered for 2026, if the Australian fails to perform.
It’s one of the pleasant surprises of this end of the season. While Alpine had experienced one of its worst starts to the season, scoring its first points only in Miami, the sixth round of the year, the French team finally finished in sixth place in the constructors’ standings. A spectacular progression that can be explained by a fantastic end of the season, highlighted by a double podium in Brazil. Alpine also made headlines behind the scenes. Indeed, the team led by Oliver Oakes was among the teams interested in Franco Colapinto.
A Formula 1 career start that arouses envy
The Argentine driver has made a strong impression since his arrival in Formula 1. During his first four races, he managed to score points twice, including an eighth-place finish on the very technical Baku circuit. These surprising performances have caught the attention of many teams. Red Bull notably showed interest in the Williams driver before the Austrian team decided to prioritize a member of its academy. After the Dutch Grand Prix, Alpine announced its driver duo for 2025, with Jack Doohan coming in to replace Ocon, who had been recruited by Haas.
Nevertheless, Colapinto’s results had altered Alpine’s plans, which was even considering the possibility of terminating Doohan’s contract before he even got into the single-seater, in order to place the Argentine driver in the French car by 2025. However, this interest has cooled in recent weeks due to several costly mistakes by the former Formula 2 driver with MP Motorsport. The Argentine should therefore not be racing in Formula 1 next year, with a reserve driver role at Williams awaiting him.
Colapinto at Alpine in 2026?
Despite everything, the speed of the Argentine driver has not been forgotten, and Flavio Briatore, executive advisor for the brand with the pointed A, does not rule out the possibility of recruiting him in 2026. “I am interested in any driver who is fast,” he told the German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport. “Colapinto surprised everyone, but we have contracts with Gasly, Doohan, and [Paul] Aron for next season. If an opportunity arose to have Colapinto in 2026, it would need to be considered.”
An interest also for the young drivers of the Alpine academy
The Italian, however, has shown caution and does not want to make a hasty decision. While Colapinto’s talent is undeniable, Alpine must examine its options for 2026. The Enstone-based team notably has talented young drivers within its academy and could opt for youth rather than experience, in the manner of Red Bull with Lawson and Mercedes with Antonelli.
« One must always be careful when evaluating drivers. In this sport, people quickly get excited after a good race. Then, the price increases and suddenly there’s talk of 20 or 30 million dollars. We want to focus on the good elements of our academy and stop wasting resources. There will probably be three drivers: Aron, [Gabriele] Mini, and [Victor] Martins. »
« It is now the time for generational change. Young drivers are hungrier than someone who has a wife, two children, and 30 to 40 million euros in the bank. » Before 2026, the French team must prepare for 2025. With a promising end to the 2024 season, Alpine seems to have regained performance and approaches 2025 with confidence.
Could she create another surprise next year? We’ll have to wait for the Australian Grand Prix on March 16 to find out.
