Franco Colapinto has vowed to show improvement if Alpine retains him for the 2026 Formula 1 season, citing an opportunity at pre-season testing as a crucial factor.
The Argentinian was deployed into the Enstone-based squad’s race roster after the Miami Grand Prix, having dispensed of the services of fellow rookie Jack Doohan.
Colapinto, who was signed by Alpine’s Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, was generally thought to be inching towards a race seat, despite Doohan’s contract to race alongside Pierre Gasly.
It has been a difficult campaign for Colapinto, having been lumbered with the uncompetitive A525 machine, which has scored just 20 points so far this year – all by Gasly.
But as the car has continued to decline through a lack of upgrades, Colapinto has personally closed the gap to the Frenchman, and even disobeyed team orders in Austin by overtaking him in a bold and courageous move.
It is, of course, not the first mid-season entrance Colapinto has previously made, having completed a nine-race cameo stint for Williams last year.
Having been shoehorned into a race after a season had already begun will have undoubtedly put Colapinto on the back foot, having not yet completed any prolonged testing programmes for either team despite now having experience spanning two F1 seasons.
And speaking to media including Motorsport Week at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Colapinto was asked whether, if he were to be re-signed for ’26, that would be a benefit for him.
“Yes, I think that always helps,” he said. “I have never had, at the moment, a pre-season test and I’ve never really been able to drive the same car in testing.
“I just kind of went racing and I’ve been trying everything in the same race weekend which doesn’t help. I think to have a competitive car and show what I can do would be nice.
“Hopefully I get the chance.”
Colapinto addresses contrasts to his 2024 and ’25 F1 stints
Argentinian journalist Jorge Peiro has reported that Colapinto has indeed been retained by Briatore, and that it will be announced at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
When asked about the differences between his stints with Williams and Alpine, the latter also utilising development for next year’s new regulations, Colapinto acknowledged the contrasts.
“I think it is quite different,” he began. “I think on one side I’m trying to work with the team and trying to understand many things for next year and for next season.
“I’m working very well with the engineers and the mechanics and I know I’m going to be working with the same in the future.
“At the end of the day it was very different last year. If I would have stayed I would have more things.
“Now I know that all the effort I’m doing is also to understand better each other and the only work we are doing is to work better as a team.
“I think it’s easier this way because we are preparing for the future.”
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