Alpine has denied that Franco Colapinto was retained for the 2026 Formula 1 season due to the sponsorship revenue that his presence brings to the team.
The Argentinian stepped into the Alpine drive mid-season as Jack Doohan’s replacement, but endured a tough time alongside the experienced Pierre Gasly.
However, Colapinto has since gotten to grips with the A525 and closed the gap to the Frenchman, guaranteeing that he will remain at the team next season.
“It’s very difficult for any of the new drivers coming in,” Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen told Sky Sports F1 in Brazil.
“We’ve seen some come in and hit the ground running straight away and we’ve seen others come in and struggle a little bit.
“Franco obviously did some races with Williams last year, substituted for Jack from Imola and struggled a bit to start with, to be honest.
“Gradually – we’re lucky to have Pierre as a marker, an established driver – Franco was able to up his game and take the fight to Pierre in a car that’s not as competitive as we would like.”
Alpine’s selection process
Colapinto’s progression since the summer break has convinced Alpine to keep him for 2026.
Nielsen said the team reviewed a wide list of potential drivers, including those outside its own pool, before committing to the 22-year-old.
“To be honest, we had everybody on the table and a lot more drivers that have since gone elsewhere,” he explained.
“Gradually we iterated towards choosing Franco. We’re happy with that. But anybody that was a possibility at some stage or another, we considered them.”
The team has carried the branding of Colapinto’s sponsor, Mercado Libre, across several races, but Nielsen has insisted that it played no part in the final call.
“You can’t ignore the financials, of course it plays a part in it,” he conceded.
“But ultimately we’ve got Franco on talent and the fact that he brings the financial side is a happy accident.”
Alpine believes Colapinto’s mix of pace, resilience, and growing confidence makes him the right partner for Gasly as the team pushes to rebound in 2026.
READ MORE – How Franco Colapinto went from ‘being lost’ to securing Alpine F1 stay for 2026
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