Alpine confirmed on Friday that Franco Colapinto will remain with the team next season, completing its 2026 driver lineup. Pierre Gasly, who has been a constant for the team in recent years, is tied with Alpine through the end of the 2028 campaign, after an extension was announced in early September.
Paul Aron was also in consideration for the second seat, but Colapinto emerged as a favorite in recent weeks, his form improving since the summer break in August. The Argentine driver replaced Jack Doohan ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May, and Colapinto didn’t live up to the same hype that surrounded him last season when he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams.
After 14 races, Gasly still leads Colapinto in head-to-head qualifying, and the Argentine driver has not scored points, which was a key target in demoting Doohan for Colapinto. But it’s worth remembering that Alpine doesn’t have a competitive car this year, which makes points a far reach at times.
This is a driver whom Flavio Briatore, the team’s executive advisor, highly rates, dating back to when Colapinto joined the team as a test and reserve driver in January.
“I’ve been following Franco’s progress throughout his time in Formula One and I have always believed that he has the right attributes and potential to be a top driver who can grow with the team,” Briatore said Friday. “Our decision to continue together for 2026 is a clear indication of our commitment and strong support for Franco as he develops as a race driver.
“It has been a tough year for the whole team, and it hasn’t been the easiest scenario to perform in, however both Franco and Pierre have done their best to help put the team in the best possible position for next season. With the line-up of Pierre and Franco, we have a good blend of experience, speed and talent that will help drive the team forward and hopefully give our fans something to cheer and shout about next season.”
2026 is looking mighty fine 👌😎 pic.twitter.com/fLJw6b5tBZ
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 7, 2025
“I am very grateful to Flavio and the entire team for their belief in me to help drive the team forwards in the future,” Colapinto said. “Ever since I made my Formula One debut, I knew, given the circumstances at play, it would be a huge challenge to keep my place in this sport. It has been a long and tough road, and I am very proud for the opportunity to drive with this team again in 2026, alongside Pierre, who has been a great team-mate and will undoubtedly be someone I can continue to learn from.”
Performance aside, Colapinto does bring significant commercial value with his sponsors. For instance, Mercado Libre joined the team as a partner over a month after the Argentine signed with Alpine, and Claro, which is Latin America’s biggest telecommunications company, partnered with the team and Colapinto in July 2025 as a regional team partner.
Alpine has undergone significant change this season, with Oliver Oakes abruptly resigning as team principal this spring, the F1 driver swap around the same time, and Luca de Meo stepping down as Renault CEO in June. But more change is coming, which is why it makes sense to keep the driver lineup steady, providing a constant for a team in transition. Not only is Alpine becoming a customer team, taking on the Mercedes power unit next year, but it’s also the start of a new era of regulations. The competition slate is essentially wiped clean until cars hit the track in Australia, with teams creating this next chapter with a blank sheet of paper.