Colapinto could stay at Alpine beyond 2026, Briatore says
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 25, 2026
Colapinto future at Alpine
Flavio Briatore said Alpine is weighing Franco Colapinto for a longer stay, with a possible contract extension into 2027 if the 23-year-old keeps his current form. The Argentine has rebuilt his case after a difficult first Formula 1 season, and Briatore said he has improved both mentally and technically while making major strides in his relationship with the team. Colapinto has backed that up on track. He has scored points with top-10 finishes in China, Miami, Canada and Barcelona, and his best result so far in 2026 is sixth place at the Canadian Grand Prix. He has also outqualified Pierre Gasly several times and has delivered 16 of Alpine’s 57 points this season. That output has given Alpine a real reason to keep him in the picture as the team maps out its next steps. Colapinto first broke into Formula 1 with Williams in 2024, finished three points behind Alexander Albon in his rookie season, joined Alpine in 2025 as a reserve driver and later moved into the race seat after Jack Doohan struggled.
Gasly leads Alpine
Briatore also gave Gasly a strong endorsement, calling him one of Formula 1’s top six drivers and saying he has grown into the team leader Alpine wanted. Gasly has pushed that case on the track too. He scored a Monaco podium in 2026 after a penalty reversal, and he has backed Briatore’s plan to revive the team. Gasly said the 2026 regulations reset gives Alpine a genuine chance to turn its fortunes around, and the early numbers support that view. Alpine has scored points in every race so far in 2026, sits fifth in the championship and leads Formula 1’s midfield with 57 points after seven rounds. The team’s pace has improved sharply since its switch to Mercedes engines, and the results have followed. Gasly and Colapinto have both played a role in that jump, with Gasly providing front-line consistency and Colapinto adding points from deeper in the field. Briatore said the focus now sits on improving the car, not changing drivers. That stance keeps the current lineup in place while Alpine tries to build on the gains it has made this season.
Alpine 2027 plans
Briatore said Alpine expects to settle its 2027 driver plans before the summer break, and he has already left the door open for Colapinto if the progress continues. The broader picture around the team still carries moving parts. Rumors have linked Fernando Alonso with a possible return to Alpine in 2027, but no move has been confirmed. Briatore also said Alpine F1 Team will cease to exist next year and be rebranded as Gucci Racing in 2027. That leaves Alpine’s next phase in focus on two fronts, the driver lineup and the shape of the team itself. For now, Briatore wants the car to move first. The future at Alpine runs through performance, and the current signs point to a stable driver pairing that has already delivered points, a podium and a clear rise in form. Colapinto’s development has given the team an option beyond 2026, Gasly’s experience has given it a proven leader and Briatore’s timetable suggests the next call will come soon enough.
