Franco Colapinto’s future in Formula 1 looks increasingly secure. After weeks of speculation, the Argentine driver seems to have finally convinced the Alpine management to keep him for another season. The contract extension now appears to be a mere formality. According to Argentine sources cited by Soymotor, the official announcement could arrive as early as next week, possibly during the Brazilian Grand Prix — an ideal setting given the strong South American fan presence and Franco Colapinto’s growing popularity across the region.
The 2025 season has not been easy for the former Williams driver, who joined Alpine mid-season to replace Jack Doohan in a car that has struggled to compete. The A525 has been one of the least competitive cars on the grid, with development already focused on the 2026 project. Despite these challenges, the young driver from Buenos Aires has impressed with steady improvement, even outperforming teammate Pierre Gasly on several occasions in both qualifying and the race.
The internal battle with Aron and Briatore’s influence
As Flavio Briatore himself admitted, the battle for Alpine’s second seat came down to two names: Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron. In the end, Franco Colapinto prevailed thanks to his consistent progress and his growing media profile, particularly in South America. The hand of Briatore is clearly visible in this choice — the Italian manager’s strategy focuses on promoting a young, charismatic driver who already offers strong commercial appeal.
The decision also looks toward the 2026 season, when Formula 1’s new technical regulations will take effect. Within Alpine, Franco Colapinto is seen as a medium-term investment — a bet on long-term development and stability for a team that desperately needs to regain direction after years of stagnation.
Jack Doohan’s decline: a dream that ended too soon
Jack Doohan’s story within Alpine has taken a completely different turn. The Australian lost his seat after just six Grands Prix, with the team opting to give Franco Colapinto the opportunity to prove his potential. Hopes for a comeback rested on Colapinto’s results and potential financial backing from Australia, but neither condition materialized.
Although neither driver has scored points this season — Doohan in six races and Colapinto in eleven — Alpine sees the Argentine as having greater growth potential and a more proactive attitude toward technical feedback and car development. The arrival of new sponsors linked to Franco Colapinto further tipped the scales in his favor, making the renewal an almost inevitable choice for the French team.
The silent growth of Colapinto
What has impressed Alpine the most is Colapinto’s adaptability. From European circuits to the American rounds, the Argentine driver has shown steady progress. Over the last four races — all at tracks he had previously raced on in 2024 — Colapinto has often qualified ahead of Gasly, and twice even finished ahead in the race.
The incident in Austin, where Colapinto ignored a team order to stay behind his teammate, caused some tension within the Alpine garage — team manager Steve Nielsen described it as “an unplanned initiative” — but it also revealed the determination of a driver no longer content to play a supporting role.
Alpine’s bet on South America
With the new deal now imminent, Alpine appears ready to invest not just in Colapinto’s driving talent but also in his growing media and commercial value. Argentina, after decades without a Formula 1 presence, has found in Colapinto a new national symbol — a driver who combines Latin passion with a European racing education, shaped through Williams’ junior program and later Alpine’s academy.
The 2026 project could be built around him as a cornerstone, with the goal of reviving a team searching for its identity. After years of technical and managerial instability, Flavio Briatore seems determined to rebuild Alpine’s image through personalities with strong narrative and marketing appeal. And in this new era for the Enstone-based squad, Franco Colapinto is set to become the face of the team’s future.
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