Colapinto's Formula 1 Future: Reports Emerge from Alpine Camp
Oct.29 - Franco Colapinto's Formula 1 future appears secure, with multiple sources now reporting that the Argentine has finalised a new deal to remain with Alpine for the 2026 season.
According to the latest rumours, the announcement had been delayed following Colapinto's defiance of team orders during the US GP at Austin just prior to Mexico - an incident that infuriated Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore.
"Franco had to apologise to Gasly and then to the entire racing team," Briatore confirmed to Auto Motor und Sport, after the team initially released, and later deleted, a public statement condemning the rookie's behaviour.
Despite the controversy, the German outlet says Colapinto has been retained. "Despite breaking the taboo, Colapinto will continue to compete for Alpine in 2026," the report read.
Briatore all but confirmed that the 22-year-old's recent progress had earned him another season. "He's improved significantly recently and has been driving at Pierre (Gasly)'s level for four races," said the Italian.
The magazine noted that Briatore had few viable alternatives within Alpine's driver pool, which currently consists only of rookies. "It's also not worth waiting for an experienced driver," Auto Motor und Sport added.
Argentine journalist Jorge Peiro also reports that the deal is "done," adding that "for marketing reasons, the Brazilian GP seems like the favourite for the announcement."
2 F1 Fan comments on “Colapinto's Formula 1 Future: Reports Emerge from Alpine Camp”
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His continuation in the team into next season will indeed most likely be formally announced during the Sao Paulo GP weekend at the very latest & a publication like AMuS definitively reporting about the situation is more or less the final nail in the coffin because they most of the time report about driver moves correctly before they become formal, hence, they’re more or less the most reliable publication for F1 driver market reporting, & for that matter, they already reported about Hadjar’s & Lindblad’s all but confirmed drives a little while ago like several others, including a few equally highly reliable journalists such as Erik Van Haren, Joe Saward, etc., while Lawson staying put at VCARB has been reported by more & more outlets the more the season has progressed.
He hardly passed with flying colours, but he did well enough. Good on him for passing Gasly in Texas. As Franco said, Gasly was slow. He was overtaken by Bortoleto after Colapinto passed him. They may both have been overtaken had team orders been followed. Also: champions do not follow such team orders. Franco may well never threaten to win a championship, but it would be good to have more drivers with a champion's mentality throughout the field. Fighters.