Gabriele Minì delivered an impressive performance for Alpine in the opening practice session of the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing seventh at Interlagos despite having never driven the circuit before and completing just two hours of simulator preparation. The Italian youngster also earned praise from Flavio Briatore, while confirming that he will not compete in Formula 2 in 2027.
The result represents an important opportunity seized by Minì at a crucial stage of his career. With his management working to establish a programme that will keep him involved in Formula 1, the Alpine junior made the most of one of the few chances available to demonstrate his abilities in a Grand Prix weekend.
Reflecting on his performance, Minì explained that his running programme had been slightly different from the one he completed during his previous appearance in Mexico City.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “The programme was a little different compared to Mexico. At the beginning, I had to do some aerodynamic tests again, sacrificing some of the time available. In the end, though, I still had five laps that really mattered. I had never driven on this circuit before, and I had only done two hours in the simulator before coming here.”
Gabriele Minì takes seventh in Brazilian GP FP1 with a clean qualifying-style lap
Gabriele Minì’s seventh-fastest time was not the result of an unusually fortunate attempt. The Italian produced a particularly clean lap, making the most of one of his limited opportunities to explore the performance available from the Alpine.
He knew that the final set of soft tyres would give him only one meaningful opportunity to set a competitive time. When that moment arrived, he managed to put together a lap that secured an impressive position on the timesheets, even though he believed there was still room for improvement.
“I was looking at the delta time on the car’s display and I could see that a good lap was coming together. The driving was clean, although I still had a little margin,” Minì explained.
“I never really managed to push at Turn 1 because I kept encountering traffic, with cars overtaking me. It was a bit of a mess. In the end, I still managed to put together a good lap. It wasn’t the lap of my life, but it was definitely very clean.”
His performance was particularly noteworthy because of the limited track time available to him. Having never previously driven at Interlagos, Minì had to learn the circuit while completing Alpine’s planned aerodynamic work and preparing for his final push lap.
Franco Colapinto’s lap time gives Alpine rookie a useful reference
Another factor that helped Gabriele Minì evaluate his performance was the lap time set by his Alpine team-mate Franco Colapinto. The Italian already knew the Argentine driver’s benchmark while completing his own attempt, allowing him to judge whether he was on course for a competitive result.
“After Turn 12, I looked at the delta time and realised that a good lap time was coming. I knew what Franco had done, so I had a precise reference.”
The comparison provided an additional indication of the quality of Minì’s performance, particularly considering how little preparation he had completed before the session.
Flavio Briatore praises Gabriele Minì after impressive Alpine performance
Minì’s seventh-place finish was also well received by Alpine’s management, including Flavio Briatore. For the young Italian, the positive reaction was particularly meaningful given the importance of making a strong impression during a limited Formula 1 opportunity.
“The team was very happy, and Flavio also congratulated me. In the end, if you manage to collect the data the team requested, bring the car back to the pits in one piece and you’re also quick, I think it’s a really positive session.”
Minì is well aware of Briatore’s direct approach to evaluating drivers and their performances. He therefore attached considerable significance to the praise he received after completing the session.
“Flavio is very direct, he always gets straight to the point. If you do something stupid or make a mistake, he doesn’t beat around the bush. I think he’s the same when you do a good job, so I really appreciated his words.”
“I thanked him, just as I thanked the entire team, both over the radio and in the garage. They gave me a great opportunity.”
Gabriele Minì confirms 2027 Formula 2 exit as Nicolas Todt works on his future
Alongside his strong performance at Interlagos, Gabriele Minì has also provided an important update concerning his plans for the 2027 season. The Italian confirmed that he will not continue competing in Formula 2 next year, with his manager Nicolas Todt working to identify the best possible solution for his career.
The announcement comes as Minì’s management attempts to secure a programme that will allow him to remain within the Formula 1 environment. Although his next racing destination has not been confirmed, his performance in Brazil has provided another opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities to Alpine.
Finishing seventh with minimal preparation, completing the team’s required programme and receiving positive feedback from Flavio Briatore made the Brazilian Grand Prix practice session an encouraging outing for the Italian youngster. His immediate future remains to be determined, but Minì has made a strong impression at Interlagos.
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