Franco Colapinto’s position in Formula 1 could be in serious jeopardy for the 2026 season following his crash during the Pirelli tyre tests.
The Argentine driver is now actively exploring his options. His current results have failed to convince the Alpine team, which promoted him to a full-time race seat in place of Jack Doohan after the Miami Grand Prix weekend. The most telling figure is in the drivers’ championship standings: zero points. Franco Colapinto is the only driver on the current Formula 1 grid who has yet to score a single point this season.
While it is true that the Alpine A525 has proven far from an ideal car, Pierre Gasly has managed to deliver far better performances in the same machinery. The French driver has reached the top 10 in five race weekends so far and has collected 20 points in the championship. This comparison highlights the performance gap between the two team-mates.
Franco Colapinto arrived at Alpine with high expectations and the clear objective of making fans forget the underwhelming performances of Jack Doohan. However, his campaign so far has been disappointing, with a series of mistakes and on-track incidents putting his 2026 seat in serious danger. The crash during the 6 August Pirelli tyre tests, which caused significant damage to the car, has only worsened his situation. According to the Dutch publication Formule1.nl, the Argentine driver’s days in Formula 1 may be numbered, and he has already started looking at alternative racing categories for the future.
Among the possibilities under consideration are a move to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) or to the American-based IndyCar Series. Sources suggest that staying in Formula 1, in the event of a split with Alpine, appears unlikely. The only team that might potentially consider him is the Cadillac entry — expected to join the grid in the future — but no negotiations are currently underway, and the team’s priorities seem focused on other driver profiles.
Despite the recent setback at the Hungaroring, Franco Colapinto is expected to keep his place at Alpine for the remainder of the current season, although with Flavio Briatore now holding an influential role in the team’s management, nothing can be taken for granted. This means that any potential change of seat would most likely happen in 2026.
The Argentine driver will therefore still have several opportunities to prove his worth. From the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoor, the championship will visit circuits where he also raced during the 2024 season, giving him prior knowledge that could be a valuable advantage. Franco Colapinto will need to make the most of this familiarity with the upcoming tracks if he hopes to hold on to his place in Formula 1 and avoid being forced to continue his career elsewhere.
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