Franco Colapinto’s Path to a Full Formula 1 Campaign in 2026
Franco Colapinto is set to embark on his first full Formula 1 campaign in 2026, following a significant development in his career. The 22-year-old Argentine driver has secured a new contract with Alpine, marking a pivotal step in his journey within the sport.
Colapinto made the transition to Formula 1 from the Williams Racing Driver Academy last year after Logan Sargeant’s performance did not meet expectations. Following Sargeant’s departure, Williams released Colapinto to Alpine in January, as the team signed Carlos Sainz alongside Alex Albon. This move opened the door for Colapinto to join Alpine on a multi-year deal, initially serving in a reserve role for the 2025 season.
However, his role was elevated when Jack Doohan was demoted after a lackluster start to the season. Colapinto took over the race seat, but he has yet to score points, contrasting sharply with his teammate Pierre Gasly, who has accumulated 20 points this season, including 13 since Colapinto took over.
Despite this, Colapinto has shown flashes of speed and potential. He has outqualified Gasly on five occasions, with four of those performances being on merit. However, he has also crashed out twice, highlighting the challenges he faces in maintaining consistency. Recently, as Alpine struggled in the standings, Colapinto has been closing the gap with Gasly on race days. Over the past five races, they have consistently finished within four seconds of each other.
As speculation about Colapinto’s future intensified, with Paul Aron, another reserve driver, being considered for his seat, Alpine has finally confirmed that the Argentine will remain with the team for the 2026 season.
Flavio Briatore, executive advisor at Alpine, expressed confidence in Colapinto’s abilities. “I’ve been following Franco’s progress throughout his time in Formula 1 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. “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.”
Briatore acknowledged the challenges faced by the team this season. “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 lineup of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Alpine aims to build on the strengths of experience, speed, and talent. “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,” Briatore added.
Colapinto reflected on the challenges of competing in Formula 1. “Ever since I made my Formula 1 debut, I knew, given the circumstances at play, it would be a huge challenge to keep my place in this sport,” he admitted. “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.”