Alpine announced that Franco Colapinto will continue racing for the team in the 2027 Formula 1 season alongside Pierre Gasly, with no changes to the driver lineup [1, 2]. Colapinto, 23, joined Alpine as a reserve driver in 2025 after replacing Jack Doohan six rounds into the season [1, 3, 2]. He has started 12 races this season and scored points in half of them, contributing 19 of Alpine’s total 63 points, at a time when the team sits sixth in the 2026 championship standings [1, 2, 3].
Colapinto’s best race result so far this year was sixth place at the Canadian Grand Prix. Before joining Alpine, Colapinto raced half the 2024 season for Williams [1, 3, 2]. Pierre Gasly remains under contract with Alpine through 2028 [1, 2].
Alpine's performance improved markedly in 2026 compared to their last-place finish in 2025. The team credits its rise to sixth place in the standings to focusing on a new chassis design and switching to customer Mercedes engines after Renault canceled its own program [3].
Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore praised Colapinto’s growth, highlighting his strong results in Miami and Montreal this year. Briatore said, "We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year. His results in Miami and Montreal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula One and he belongs at this team" [1].
Colapinto expressed gratitude for the team’s trust and said he feels "very happy and settled here and it's been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared with last." He added, "Our long-term goals are obvious -- to compete and win -- and I am grateful to the team, Flavio and (managing director) Steve (Nielsen), for the trust placed in me to be one of its drivers going into the future" [1, 3].
Alpine’s next race is the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 6, where the team will look to build on its improved form [1, 2].
