Franco Colapinto in the paddock at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures

Alpine sticks with Colapinto, right call? Our writers have their say!

15:22, 07 Nov

Updated: 18:04, 07 Nov

byTobia Elia

Alpine has decided to keep its faith in Colapinto for next season — was that the right call from the French team?

The news had been in the air for several weeks, but now it’s official: the Argentine driver will continue to be Pierre Gasly’s teammate next season, with Alpine choosing stability ahead of the major technical and regulatory revolution set to take place in just a few months.

A well-deserved extension for the former Williams driver? Let’s see what our editors have to say.

Photo: Alpine F1 Team

Ben Hunt

I'm surprised that Alpine have decided to pull the trigger so early to renew Franco Colapinto, for there has been little evidence this season that he is a good, long term option.

Yes, he has superstar appeal in Argentina and his impact in terms of fandom and commercialisation has been felt, but in terms of results, he’s come up short.In fairness, he’s not been helped by an under-strength Alpine car, which has limited his ability to show his potential.

However, Alpine could have waited, for it was entirely likely he would not be an option for rival teams. In going early, Alpine have turned down the likes of other exciting talents. Like many things in F1, the timing seems unusual even if the decision was widely an expected one.

Tobia Elia

Although the standings still show him on zero points — just like the driver he replaced from the Imola GP onwards, Jack Doohan — it’s clear that Colapinto still has untapped potential that’s slowly beginning to emerge in recent races.

True, the points comparison with Gasly is a harsh one, but the Argentine has outqualified his teammate five times, and he’s also shown flashes of the raw talent and natural speed that turned heads across the paddock during his first stint in F1 with Williams. That said, a few costly mistakes and incidents, just like in his Williams stint, have held him back — areas he’ll need to work on going forward.

Flavio Briatore, on the other hand, appears to have moved away from the Helmut Marko–style approach to driver management, realising that continuity is the only sensible way forward for a team that’s already undergone plenty of upheaval — perhaps too much — in recent years. Sticking with the same driver line-up offers a solid foundation on which to build something significant, ahead of next year’s switch to Mercedes engines.

Norberto Mujica

Between the lack of realistic options to replace Colapinto, and the ever-growing need to ensure continuity as Formula 1 is readying itself to dive head first into the -arguably- biggest technical regulation overhaul in the sports history, Alpine found itself between a rock and a hard place.

Should they let go of Colapinto, who would they put in the car next to Gasly? Circumstances have played a key role in giving what most certainly is the Argentine's second lifeline in F1, now it'll be up to him to make it count.

Kada Sarkozi

A team like Alpine is in a position to bet on a talented driver such as Colapinto, who has shown on multiple occasions that he has what it takes to be in Formula 1.

Heading into 2026, he is already familiar with how the team operates, as the team focuses on the upcoming regulation change. Of course, he made mistakes on occasion, but there is no reason for the French team to change anything right now.

Once he has the right material, he can prove he is worthy of a seat in F1. Moreover, Colapinto is a colorful and positive person to have in the F1 paddock.

Photo: Race Pictures

Luke-John Buckle

I feel Franco Colapinto is a good fit for Alpine heading into 2026, as the Argentine has shown moments of speed alongside Pierre Gasly. He has also cut out some of the crashes that hindered his stint with Williams last year.

The Argentine should also benefit from a full campaign next year, as he has yet to build up through a pre-season in Formula 1.

Colapinto is also more experienced than Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron, who has yet to start a Grand Prix. He has also started more races than Jack Doohan, who was also considered.

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