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It’s crunch time for Franco Colapinto. The young Argentine finds himself in Formula 1 limbo, awaiting word from Alpine on whether he’ll stay in the team’s 2026 lineup or be shown the door. But according to The Race and PlanetF1, the odds appear to be shifting in his favour. A Rollercoaster Rookie Run Colapinto joined Alpine in early 2025 as a reserve driver after turning heads during a nine-race cameo with Williams in the back half of 2024. Midway through this season, he was promoted to replace Jack Doohan from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix onwards. But his full-time stint hasn’t been smooth sailing. The 22-year-old has yet to score a point in 14 races for the team, though there have been encouraging signs. His performances have steadily improved since the summer break, with his pace now much closer to that of established teammate Pierre Gasly. The Briatore Factor and Internal Politics Alpine adviser Flavio Briatore recently made it clear that the team won’t look outside its own ranks for 2026, narrowing the decision to a straight shootout between Colapinto and fellow junior Paul Aron. That statement, coupled with Colapinto’s growing confidence and strong sponsorship backing from Latin American partner Mercado Libre, could tilt the balance in his favour. Speaking after the Mexican Grand Prix, Colapinto hinted he was eager for stability, stating, “I just want to reach a point where I can race with not so much stress, and a bit more relaxed.” Decision Imminent A final call is expected before this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, a race where Colapinto will enjoy massive fan support from Argentina. If Alpine opts to retain him, Colapinto will continue alongside Gasly as the team begins a new chapter powered by Mercedes engines — a much-needed dose of stability after a turbulent 18 months for the Enstone outfit.
