Alpine praises Colapinto’s growth and justifies extension: “Consistency is key”

Key takeaways

• Consistency seals 2027 extension: Flavio Briatore named driver consistency as a vital element, confirming Franco Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly for 2027.
• Proving F1 worth: Key drives in Miami and Montreal validated Colapinto’s spot, according to Alpine management.
• Turnaround season: Colapinto rebounded from a scoreless 2025 campaign to score 19 points through the first 12 races of 2026.

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore praised Franco Colapinto’s development following the official announcement of his contract extension for the 2027 Formula 1 season. Briatore highlighted that driver stability allows the team to focus fully on chassis development and long-term competitiveness.

Colapinto entered Alpine mid-season in 2025 at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, replacing Jack Doohan. Dealing with an uncompetitive package and early adaptation struggles, the Argentine finished his debut campaign without scoring points.

However, the 2026 technical reset—combined with Alpine’s switch to Mercedes power units—marked a major turnaround. Colapinto minimized costly incidents, delivered consistent race pace, and holds 12th place in the Drivers’ Standings with 19 points through 12 rounds.

“We are very happy to confirm our driver lineup for 2027, with Franco remaining as a race driver alongside Pierre. For me, consistency is key,” Briatore stated. “With the driver situation settled, our priority remains building a fast race car—which is without doubt the most crucial puzzle piece.“

Briatore pointed directly to mid-season performances as proof of Colapinto’s growth:

“We have seen Franco really evolve and mature, becoming a great driver this year. His results in Miami and Montreal, in particular, confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula 1 and in this team,” Briatore added. “I expect both Franco and Pierre to continue doing a fantastic job on track as the entire team pushes to fight at the front.“

The announcement builds on major paddock headlines ahead of Monza, including Izan Guevara’s promotion to Pramac Yamaha for 2027, Fernando Alonso praising his bold one-stop strategy at Zandvoort, and Carlos Sainz placing Aston Martin in a superior league relative to Williams.

Formula 1 resumes action from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session. Follow all updates on our news page.

World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why did Alpine extend Franco Colapinto’s contract for 2027?

Flavio Briatore emphasized that Colapinto’s rapid maturation, consistency, and strong points finishes in Miami and Montreal proved he deserves a seat in Formula 1.

2. How many points has Franco Colapinto scored in 2026?

Colapinto has scored 19 of Alpine’s 63 Constructors’ Championship points across the opening 12 rounds of the 2026 season.

3. When is the next race on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar?

Formula 1 returns to action from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.