Franco Colapinto has opened up on his initial struggles at Alpine in Formula 1, with interim boss Flavio Briatore said to not be “at all” happy with the Argentinian’s performances.
Colapinto made his Alpine debut at Imola, replacing Jack Doohan, ending weeks of speculation that the Australian would eventually make way for the former Williams prospect.
The 23-year-old has finished all three races of the European triple-header, but has been outside of the points on every occasion, qualifying on the back row twice, albeit through a technical issue in Spain.
He managed 15th at Imola, but crashed spectacularly in Q2 at Tamburello, requiring a huge repair job on his car.
Colapinto’s introduction into the team, having been originally signed as a reserve driver, was said to be largely through the influence of Briatore, who apparently rates him highly.
But the maverick Italian’s patience appears to be wearing thin, despite saying before the race in Spain that it was the “first real race of Franco”.
In a frank assessment, Briatore outlined the criteria for Colapinto to keep his seat, saying he “needs to be fast, not crash, and score points,” adding: “I’m only asking him these three things – not 10. If he does them well, he’ll drive forever.”
He then stated to Sky Deutschland his displeasure with Colapinto’s performance so far.
“If I were to say now that I was happy, it would be a lie. I’m not happy at all. Now we have to see how the season develops for him,” he said.
‘Five races, four races, three races, one race. We see’
In the initial announcement announcing Colapinto’s promotion to a full race seat, it was stated that he would be given a guarantee of five races to prove himself.
Briatore initially backpeddled on this, saying that this was not the case, and ahead of last weekend’s race, he did so again, this time perhaps intimating it may be less, rather than more, five races.
“I don’t know, honestly. I never tell five races, three races, four races, one race. We see,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“If Colapinto is performing, he’s driving the car. If not, we’ll see. 2025 is a year we need to prepare ourselves for 2026. So whatever experiment I need doing, we’re doing.”
Colapinto himself was on the end of some tough questioning after the race, having finished 15th with Gasly scoring points in eighth.
When asked if he needed a miracle to stay at the time beyond the next two races, Colapinto told media including Motorsport Week: “No, I don’t think it’s the person you should be asking that.
“We are growing with the team and doing step by step, but today was a tough race, a tough afternoon, a difficult race, so I need to focus.”
After Monaco, Colapinto discussed the areas in which he did not feel confident with the car, something he reaffirmed again.
“I think it’s a bit of confidence with the car in some areas,” he explained. “Some entries I feel quite still a bit uncomfortable, and sometimes not being able to carry the speed I need.
“You know, clean up a couple of corners that are clear to us, that I’m lacking a bit of confidence in, and I think just to keep working now in these weeks that we have to keep learning.”
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