Now the final piece of the puzzle is in place. The Enstone-based team has officially confirmed the renewal of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto for the next season, completing Alpine’s lineup for the 2026 championship. After an initial adaptation period, Colapinto has shown significant progress in recent races, earning the team’s confidence and the contract extension.
With just a few months remaining before the start of the next season, the Formula 1 grid for 2026 is finally complete. Alpine resolved the last uncertainty regarding their lineup by opting to retain Franco Colapinto, who will once again partner Pierre Gasly in a year that will mark the start of a new technical cycle, as first reported by Motorsport.com at the end of October.
This renewal is more than just a contract extension—it is a clear signal of trust and continuity at a crucial time for the team, which in 2026 will switch to Mercedes Power Units in pursuit of greater competitiveness. This decision has led the team to sacrifice development in the current season to focus fully on the upcoming campaign.
Interestingly, the renewal announcement came on 7 November 2025, a date that is far from coincidental: the sum of the digits mirrors Colapinto’s race number, 43, which he will carry on the Alpine A526 next season. The announcement also took place in Brazil, the Grand Prix closest to his homeland. The Argentine will once again race alongside Pierre Gasly, forming a pairing that combines experience and talent while already being familiar with the team.
After impressing with Williams last season, Colapinto joined Alpine this year, initially serving as a reserve driver during the winter. From the start, however, the plan was to promote him to a race seat in place of Jack Doohan after a few rounds. From the Imola Grand Prix onward, Colapinto took over the Australian’s car, gaining valuable experience and mileage in hopes of securing a 2026 seat.
While Colapinto brings several sponsors who can support the team financially, it was essential that he demonstrate the necessary speed on track to earn the renewal. This requirement did not become evident immediately: starting the season several races behind his rivals and without prior experience in the A525 before Imola, his progress began under challenging conditions.
Colapinto required a natural and understandable adaptation period. As explained during the summer break, he initially struggled to find the feel and confidence in the A525 that he had developed in Williams, where he had more opportunities to test, especially in the simulator. However, after the break, his results and performances showed clear improvement.
Gradually, Franco Colapinto gained confidence in the car, improving his pace and consistently approaching Gasly’s level, at times even outperforming him. This growth did not go unnoticed within Alpine, despite points being scarce due to a car whose development had been frozen for several months.
In recent races, while Alpine slipped toward the back of the field, Franco Colapinto still managed to reduce the gap to Gasly in races: in the last five events, the two finished less than four seconds apart. This improvement coincided with a limited market, as most drivers already had contracts for the next year, making the competition internal with reserve driver Paul Aron.
Flavio Briatore, a key figure within the team, highlighted that Colapinto has the qualities to become a top-level driver and grow alongside Alpine. He stated that the decision to continue together in 2026 demonstrates the team’s commitment and strong support for Franco in his development. Despite a challenging year for the entire team, both Franco and Pierre did their best to put Alpine in the strongest possible position for the upcoming season.
Colapinto expressed gratitude for the trust shown and pride at the opportunity to continue with Alpine. He stated that he is very thankful to Flavio and the team for their confidence, acknowledging that, given the circumstances, maintaining his seat in Formula 1 would be a major challenge. He described the journey as long and difficult and said he is proud to have the chance to race with the team again in 2026.
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