Colapinto Confirmed at Alpine for 2026 Season

Franco Colapinto has been confirmed as an Alpine driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season, completing the team's lineup for the new regulation era alongside Pierre Gasly. The announcement, made at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, signifies a long-term investment in the young driver despite a challenging debut season.

Why it matters:

After a mid-season entry and a demanding rookie year, Colapinto's confirmation for 2026 signals Alpine's commitment to continuity and long-term driver development. This decision provides stability as the team prepares for a significant regulatory overhaul, aiming to rebound from a difficult period and establish a competitive presence in the future.

The Details:

• Multi-year Agreement: Alpine's announcement at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix highlighted the continuation of a multi-year agreement first signed in January.
• Driver Lineup: Colapinto will partner with Pierre Gasly, completing Alpine's driver pairing for the 2026 season, which marks the start of a new regulatory era.
• Mid-season Debut: Colapinto joined Alpine earlier this year after leaving Williams, making his F1 race debut at Imola in May as a replacement for Jack Doohan.
• Performance in 2025: Though he has yet to score points, Colapinto has shown flashes of speed, outqualifying Gasly on five occasions. However, consistency has been a challenge, with two race-ending crashes.
• Recent Improvement: In recent rounds, Colapinto has narrowed the gap to Gasly, finishing within four seconds of his teammate in the last five races.
• Briatore's Endorsement: Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore praised Colapinto as a long-term investment, stating his belief in the young driver's potential to grow with the team.
• Team Challenges: Briatore acknowledged that it has been a tough year for Alpine, but both Colapinto and Gasly have been crucial in positioning the team for future improvement.
• Ending Speculation: Colapinto's confirmation puts an end to speculation linking reserve driver Paul Aron to the seat and further diminishes Jack Doohan's prospects for an F1 return.

What's next:

Colapinto's confirmation provides a clear path for his continued development within Formula 1. With the 2026 regulations approaching, Alpine will now focus on leveraging this driver stability to build a competitive package.

• The team will be looking for Colapinto to translate his flashes of speed into more consistent performances as he gains experience.
• For Jack Doohan, the confirmation further solidifies the lack of an immediate F1 path, potentially leading him to explore opportunities in series like Super Formula, as recent sightings suggest.