Franco Colapinto delivered a memorable weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, finishing 7th and achieving his best Formula 1 result of the 2026 season so far. Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen has explained the key factors behind this step forward, linking it both to a significant technical upgrade on the car and to a renewed mental boost for the Argentine driver following his recent return home.
The introduction of chassis number 3
The driver from Pilar was able to use chassis number 3 for the first time, a component specifically developed to maximise on-track performance. Unlike the first chassis, which was heavier due to the structural reinforcements required for FIA crash test homologation, this new version allowed Alpine to run exactly at the regulatory weight limit of 768 kg.
Steve Nielsen told the Argentine newspaper Olé: “Fortunately, one area where we have been strong this year is the weight of the car. We always keep it at or very close to the limit, which not all teams can say. And being lighter automatically means better performance.”
The positive effect of the Argentina trip
Beyond the technical side, Nielsen also highlighted with some humour the psychological boost Colapinto gained from his visit to Argentina on April 26. The contact with fans and his demonstration runs in historic cars, including a replica of the Mercedes-Benz W196 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, acted as a real reset in terms of confidence for the young driver.
The Alpine boss joked: “Maybe he should go to Argentina before every race.” He then added: “We spoke a lot with Franco Colapinto, we had several conversations. He told us he was struggling to match Pierre Gasly’s race pace, but here he was happier with the car than he has been all year, so I hope this continues.”
The race performance
During the race in Florida, Colapinto managed his medium tyres extremely well, extending his first stint until lap 31. He showed strong consistency and solid race pace, allowing him to remain firmly in the points positions and even setting the eighth fastest lap of the entire race on Sunday. He initially crossed the line in eighth place, confirming Alpine’s progress in the midfield battle and overtaking drivers of the calibre of Lewis Hamilton on track.
The satisfaction increased hours after the chequered flag, when the FIA handed a 20-second penalty to Charles Leclerc for repeated track limits violations. This decision promoted Colapinto to seventh place in the final classification, awarding him and the team six valuable championship points.
After the Miami weekend, Formula 1 now moves on to Canada. The next round will take place from May 22 to 24 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, where Colapinto will have the opportunity to prove that this result was not an isolated performance.
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