Why Franco Colapinto has been rewarded with an Alpine extension

Here's the thing about Franco Colapinto's journey: it has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Lawrence Barretto reports that the Argentine has now been rewarded with a contract extension to remain at Alpine for next season, keeping him alongside Pierre Gasly. It is a stunning vote of confidence for a driver who arrived at the squad as a reserve in 2025 following a strong debut stint with Williams, where he stepped in for the final nine races of 2024 to replace Logan Sargeant.

That seat at Alpine opened up when he was parachuted in early in the campaign to replace Jack Doohan, eventually securing the full-time nod for this season after seeing off a threat from reserve Paul Aron. Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore admitted it was a bumpy start, noting that Colapinto initially looked "lost" before finding his form and maturing into a "different" driver. The turnaround has been absolute. The 23-year-old has scored in six of the 12 Grands Prix so far, highlighted by a best result of sixth in Montreal.

That kind of performance, paired with a high-performing Gasly—who is locked in with a deal until at least the end of 2028—has pushed Alpine to P6 in the Teams' Championship. That meets the minimum result Briatore demanded for the year. Naturally, Alpine looked at other options, but they were ultimately won over by Colapinto's on-track level-up, tenacity, and growing maturity. The welcome bonus of financial backing, massive South American fanbase, and regional sponsorship appeal only sealed the deal.

Colapinto is believed to have received the good news during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort. With the team still rebuilding, keeping a stable driver line-up lets them focus on making the machine faster and closing the gap to the frontrunners. It also lifts the weight off the driver's shoulders, letting him focus purely on the rest of the campaign without future worries. That matters immensely right now, as Alpine fights for P5 in the Teams' Championship—a target they firmly believe is within reach before the year wraps up.

All of this lays the groundwork for 2027, when the outfit will officially run under the banner of Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team with ambitions of slashing the deficit to the front. Rumours had linked him with a potential return to Williams, but with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon locked in there, Alpine was always his most probable home. After failing to score a single point in 2025, the Argentine has absorbed the pressure and delivered. Now, the mission is simple: get back to scoring points and maintain that steep upward trajectory.