Colapinto to remain at Alpine for 2026

Written by Elaina Russell, Edited by Meghana Sree

Franco Colapinto will remain with Alpine for the 2026 Formula One season, the team has confirmed ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Credit: Formula One

The announcement comes as a show of confidence in the young Argentine, who despite failing to score a single point thus far this season, has earned praise for his steady progress and growing understanding of the A525.

Reacting to the announcement, Colapinto shared: "I am very grateful to Flavio [Briatore] and the entire team for their belief in me to help drive the team forwards in the future.

“Ever since I made my Formula One debut, I knew, given the circumstances at play, it would be a huge challenge to keep my place in this sport.

“It has been a long and tough road, and I am very proud for the opportunity to drive with this team again in 2026, alongside Pierre [Gasly], who has been a great team mate and will undoubtedly be someone I can continue to learn from.

"Finally, it is very special and timely to make this announcement here in Brazil this weekend. Being so close to my home country of Argentina and an event that feels like a home race for me where I have so much support."

Colapinto joined Alpine at Imola earlier this year, stepping in as Jack Doohan's replacement, and has since become a consistent presence alongside teammate Pierre Gasly.

Though the Enstone-based team have endured a torrid campaign—rooted at the very bottom of the Constructors’ standings with just 20 points and battling constant setup and reliability woes—Colapinto’s composure has stood out amid the chaos.

Alpine shared: "Franco [Colapinto] has shown promise and potential with gradual improvement across the season and has also developed a positive relationship with the team and engineers."

Adding to the team's statement, Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore said: "I’ve been following Franco’s progress throughout his time in F1 and I have always believed that he has the right attributes and potential to be a top driver who can grow with the team.

“Our decision to continue together for 2026 is a clear indication of our commitment and strong support for Franco as he develops as a race driver.

“It has been a tough year for the whole team, and it hasn’t been the easiest scenario to perform in, however both Franco and Pierre have done their best to help put the team in the best possible position for next season.

“With the line-up of Pierre and Franco, we have a good blend of experience, speed and talent that will help drive the team forward and hopefully give our fans something to cheer and shout about next season.”

The deal had been widely expected following the Mexico City Grand Prix, where representatives of Colapinto’s main sponsor were seen in the paddock.

For Alpine, the decision to retain Colapinto is as much about potential as performance.

Since making his F1 debut with Williams at Monza in 2024, the 22-year-old has built a reputation as a disciplined driver capable of extracting the most from otherwise difficult machinery. 

While Alpine have struggled to replicate their 2024 highs—including a double podium in Brazil—the team likely hope stability in their driver line-up will pay dividends.

With Gasly’s contract also set to run through 2026, up until 2028, the French outfit can focus fully on technical development ahead of the next regulation shift.

For Colapinto, who remains Argentina’s first full-time F1 driver in over two decades, the renewal provides much-needed stability in what has otherwise been a bruising campaign. 

Alpine currently sit tenth in the Constructors’ Championship, 40 points behind Sauber. But with continuity now secured, the team will aim to end 2025 on a stronger note as preparations for 2026 begin in earnest.