is trying “way more mature” forward of the 2026 System 1 season, in keeping with government advisor Flavio Briatore.
The younger Argentinian is ready to contest his first full F1 marketing campaign, having beforehand stepped right into a race seat mid-season in 2024 with after which once more at Alpine in 2025, changing from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix onwards.
Commercial
Colapinto endured a tough 2025 marketing campaign as Alpine switched its focus early to the 2026 regulation overhaul, as he completed the season with out scoring some extent. This contrasted sharply along with his stint at Williams, the place he reached Q3 and scored his first factors in simply his second race, on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Whereas he appeared to return beneath scrutiny at occasions from Briatore, Alpine in the end renewed its religion in Colapinto, saying a contract extension for 2026 final November in the course of the Brazilian spherical.
“Final yr was Franco’s first yr in System 1 [sic]. There have been quite a lot of expectations, this and that. All the pieces was not managed correctly,” Briatore mentioned when requested by Motorsport.com whether or not Colapinto could be judged in another way in 2026.
Commercial
“This yr, you see Franco’s face and he’s way more mature. He’s not just like the little one we had final yr.”
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Throughout races final season, Colapinto typically confirmed comparable tempo to his extra skilled team-mate , however qualifying proved to be a weak spot. He ended the yr trailing Gasly 17–5 of their qualifying head-to-head.
“We spent quite a lot of time with him this winter,” Briatore added. “Franco’s primary drawback was qualifying, as a result of within the race he was fast, like Pierre.
Commercial
“He simply wanted to drive the automobile and qualify utilizing his expertise, not drive it emotionally. He’s rising. He’s superb within the manufacturing unit. We spent quite a lot of time within the simulator, quite a lot of time within the simulator. We’ve executed the whole lot it’s potential to do.”
Learn Additionally:
Colapinto echoed his boss’s feedback and harassed that Alpine should now ship outcomes, with the crew aiming to make a major step ahead after ending final within the 2025 constructors’ championship.
Commercial
“As a crew, there are not any extra excuses,” Colapinto mentioned. “The ability unit has modified and the rules have modified. Now we’ve got to place the work in and ship efficiency.
“Final yr we have been specializing in 2026, and now 2026 has arrived. It’s time to go and get the outcomes the crew deserves. Everybody has been working very arduous. Hopefully it’s a fast automobile. It appears to be like good, hopefully it’s quick, and we will obtain the outcomes we anticipate.”
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
