Franco Colapinto disappoints, Paul Aron impresses: Flavio Briatore reflects on Alpine’s 2026 line-up. Flavio Briatore discusses Alpine’s second driver choice for 2026.

Flavio Briatore discusses Alpine’s second driver choice for 2026

Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Alpine’s second driver for 2026 will be chosen between Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron, ruling out any return for Jack Doohan next season. The decision, he reiterated, will be based solely on performance. Franco Colapinto, coming off a challenging season in which a qualifying error in Baku could prove critical, will need to prove he is up to the task. Meanwhile, Aron, strengthened by his third-place finish in F2 and experience in FP1 sessions with Alpine and Sauber, is considered a strong candidate to partner Galy.

The season of Franco Colapinto

Since replacing Jack Doohan, who was excluded after six races—four more than the number of races Red Bull allowed Liam Lawson—Franco Colapinto has been somewhat disappointing.

Of course, the Alpine is not a car capable of fighting for top positions, but the Franco Colapinto we’ve seen this year is far from the driver who impressed the paddock with Williams last year when he replaced Logan Sargeant. Instead, he has been a version marked by bad luck, involved in numerous incidents and mistakes.

Aron, a former Mercedes Junior Team member and third in the 2024 F2 championship, signed as Alpine’s reserve driver last November and has participated in two FP1 sessions—one with the French team and one with Sauber.

Flavio Briatore’s comments

Speaking with journalists, Flavio Briatore said the choice is between these two drivers, also because there are no better alternatives. He explained: “The choice is between Franco and Paul. Paul is a very nice guy, as well as a very fast driver. And I need to understand what is best for the team, you know? I mean, I have no personal interests here. People used to drive me crazy, complaining because I managed 50% of the drivers. Now I manage no one. My only goal is to sign the best available driver and do the best job possible with us. It’s simple. I need another race or two to decide, but honestly, today I don’t know which one to choose. We look at others, but no one convinces us… the good drivers excel. I remember when Schumi was in Group C with Sauber, he won every race… GP2 was the same. Hamilton was bam, bam, bam… Fernando was driving Formula 3000 or something and won every race. I remember when I tried Fernando. I put him in a Minardi and Giancarlo called me saying: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this.’ Now, remove Max. The rest?”