Briatore Opens the Door to Retaining Colapinto at Alpine Beyond 2026
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore told the Formula 1 podcast Beyond The Grid that the team will consider retaining Franco Colapinto for 2027 if the Argentine maintains his current form and his working relationship with Pierre Gasly holds. A final decision is expected before the European summer break in August 2026.
Briatore signals Colapinto could stay at Alpine into 2027
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore used the latest episode of the official Formula 1 podcast Beyond The Grid, published on 24 June 2026, to signal that Franco Colapinto has a genuine path to retaining his race seat beyond this season. Briatore confirmed that the team will explore a contract extension if the 23-year-old continues performing at his current level. [1]
The comments arrive as the F1 driver market enters its traditional mid-season shuffle. Gasly holds a long-term contract with Alpine through to at least 2028, leaving Colapinto's berth as the seat under scrutiny. [2] Briatore indicated he would not be rushed into a decision, stating the team has races to run before any announcement: Alpine intends to settle its 2027 lineup before the European summer break in August. [1]
The context: from pointless 2025 to midfield leader
The scale of Colapinto's turnaround makes the situation notable. He ended the 2025 season without a single championship point across 18 appearances, and off-season reports indicated Briatore had actively pushed Alpine's ownership to sign rival candidate Paul Aron instead. [3] The Argentine was nonetheless retained, and under the new technical regulations and a fresh Mercedes power unit deal, his form has transformed.
In 2026 Colapinto has scored points at four of seven rounds, including top-10 finishes in China, Miami, Canada and Madrid, contributing 16 of Alpine's 57 constructor points. [1] His career-best result came at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished sixth. [2] As a team, Alpine leads the midfield in the constructors' championship after seven rounds. [1]
Gasly partnership cited as a key factor
Briatore framed the 2027 decision around the strength of the Colapinto-Gasly pairing inside the garage, drawing a parallel with historic Alpine and Renault line-ups. [1] The Race reported separately that Briatore stated Colapinto "has the talent to be one of the top drivers" and noted the Canadian race as a particular example of composure under pressure, given that Colapinto missed Friday practice due to a battery issue yet still qualified inside the top ten. [2]
:::analysis Briatore's public praise, delivered at a moment when the silly season is just warming up, carries a dual function: it acknowledges genuine on-track improvement while simultaneously establishing Colapinto's value before any rival team or driver agent can test Alpine's resolve. Whether the seat is confirmed before Austria weekend ends or closer to the Hungarian GP in late July, the framing shifts noticeably from last winter, when the seat was in question. The remaining four rounds before the summer break, at Silverstone, Spa, Budapest and the Red Bull Ring this weekend, now double as an extended audition with a stated deadline. :::
Related reading
[1]: formula1.com, "Flavio Briatore hints at Alpine's plan to keep Franco Colapinto into 2027 in latest episode of Beyond The Grid," 24 June 2026. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/briatore-hints-at-alpines-plan-to-keep-colapinto-into-2027-in-latest-episode-of-beyond-the-grid.2X6xFuve9MQjuqwEG9nwAN [2]: The Race, "Alpine is ready to act if Verstappen joins Mercedes." https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-f1-2027-line-up-mercedes-driver-admission/ [3]: F1 Oversteer, "Flavio Briatore explains why he was right to tell Franco Colapinto 'you are the problem'." https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/flavio-briatore-explains-why-he-was-right-to-tell-franco-colapinto-you-are-the-problem/
- [1]Flavio Briatore hints at Alpine's plan to keep Franco Colapinto into 2027 in latest episode of Beyond The Grid (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-25.
- [2]Alpine is ready to act if Verstappen joins Mercedes (the-race). Accessed 2026-06-25.
- [3]Flavio Briatore explains why he was right to tell Franco Colapinto 'you are the problem' (f1oversteer). Accessed 2026-06-25.