Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has confirmed the team will explore extending Franco Colapinto’s contract into the 2027 season, praising the Argentine driver’s rapid improvement since joining the Enstone squad on a race-by-race basis.
Speaking on the latest episode of Formula 1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, Briatore said a decision on the 2027 lineup would come before the summer break but left little doubt about his satisfaction with Colapinto’s trajectory.
“If Franco is performing like he’s performing now and the relationship between Franco and Pierre is like now, it’s the same we have with Alonso at the time, with Fisichella, with Trulli, super relationship. Why not?” Briatore said. “I know Franco very well now. We know Pierre very well. We are in the moment to technically build up the team, consistency. Maybe. We have plenty of races to go just to the end of August and before the summer break, we decide.”
Colapinto, 23, initially replaced the demoted Jack Doohan for five rounds beginning at last year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Alpine subsequently kept him on a race-by-race arrangement, and after finishing the previous season without scoring a single point, the Argentine has turned a corner in 2026. He recorded his best career result of sixth place at the Canadian Grand Prix and has out-qualified teammate Pierre Gasly on multiple occasions.
Colapinto has contributed 16 of Alpine’s 57 points this season through top-10 finishes in China, Miami, Canada and Barcelona-Catalunya. Those results have helped Alpine establish themselves atop the midfield standings after seven rounds.
Briatore credited sustained behind-the-scenes work for the turnaround. “Franco is integrating much better in the team. He’s improving a lot — mentally, technically, relationship with the team. We’re working very hard with him,” Briatore said. “He’s moving to Monaco. I see him a lot in Monaco. We’re talking a lot with him. This young driver arrived in Formula 1 with a lot of pressure and to settle mentally is not easy. We need to help him.”
The Italian added: “We’ve done a lot of work with Franco and now, little by little, the confidence has arrived. I don’t know our level of talent we will arrive at with him. But sure enough, a talent. This is 100 per cent.”
With the summer break approaching and the broader driver market expected to heat up, Briatore’s public endorsement represents a strong signal that Alpine intends to maintain stability in its driver lineup heading into 2027, provided Colapinto sustains his current form over the coming races.