Follow us on Google Discover Franco Colapinto’s P16 in the 2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix matched his best result from the past five rounds, as the Alpine driver bids to secure a seat on the 2026 grid.
The Argentine occupies one of the final four vacancies remaining for next year, as Alpine are still to confirm who will partner Pierre Gasly in the 2026 season. Colapinto has occupied the A525 since he replaced Jack Doohan this May, but he is yet to score a point after 14 outings.
Doohan, who Alpine fielded in the first six rounds of the 2025 season, and Colapinto are the only drivers without a point so far this term. Gasly has also only managed 20 points for 18th in the F1 drivers’ championship, along with leaving Alpine last in the constructors’ standings.
Colapinto’s results since he replaced Doohan have tempted executive adviser Flavio Briatore to delay deciding Alpine’s driver line-up for the 2026 season. Only Red Bull and Racing Bulls also still have seats left to fill on the 2026 F1 grid heading into the final four rounds of 2025.
Photo by Peter Fox/Getty ImagesFranco Colapinto’s qualifying upturn convinces Alpine to retain him for the 2026 season
But reports emerged during the Mexico City GP weekend that Alpine have told Colapinto he will drive for them in 2026. It is also said that the Enstone outfit could announce the Buenos Aires native’s new contract before the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil on November 7-9.
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TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesGeorge RussellKimi AntonelliRacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
And GPblog now notes that Briatore has decided to retain Colapinto for the 2026 F1 season, as Alpine have seen a ‘clear upward trend’ in his qualifying results. The Argentine has posed more of a threat to Gasly of late and been able to outpace the one-time Grand Prix winner.
Colapinto’s improved qualifying performances have ‘sufficiently convinced’ Briatore to hand the former Williams prospect another chance with Alpine next year. His continued presence will also allow Alpine continuity and stability for the introduction of the 2026 F1 regulations.
Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly have out-qualified each other 3-3 since the 2025 F1 summer break
Next year will see major changes to F1’s chassis, aero, engine and tyre regulations, as well as a major change in Enstone. Alpine will become a Mercedes F1 engine customer in 2026 after owners Renault decided to shut its factory power unit division at its factory in Viry-Chatillon.
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QUALIFYINGLEAD ALPINE DRIVERMARGINDutch GPPierre Gasly0.210s (in Q1)Italian GPFranco Colapinto0.111s (in Q1)Azerbaijan GPFranco Colapinto0.360s (in Q1)Singapore GPFranco Colapinto0.279s (in Q1)United States GPPierre Gasly0.393s (in Q2)Mexico City GPPierre Gasly0.124s (in Q1)Qualifying head-to-head at Alpine since the 2025 F1 summer break
Briatore deciding to keep Colapinto will allow Alpine to enter the new regulations cycle with two F1 drivers with whom they know what to expect. Also, Colapinto raced with the current 1.6L V6 Mercedes engine at Williams in his nine cameo races at the end of the 2024 season.
Colapinto is starting to show Briatore that he can give Alpine more than he initially managed upon replacing Doohan in May, too. Since August’s summer break, Gasly and Colapinto have out-qualified each other 3-3, despite the Frenchman leading their qualifying duel 6-2 at first.