Franco Colapinto faces intensified scrutiny within Alpine as the team prepares for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, following a disappointing 2025 season. Alpine finished last in the constructors’ standings in 2025, raising expectations for improvement with the new season and putting the spotlight on driver performance, particularly Colapinto’s.
During 2025, Alpine focused its development efforts on the upcoming season rather than improving the current car, leaving both drivers, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, to struggle. Colapinto ended the year 20th in the drivers’ standings, while Gasly placed 18th. Now, benefiting from a Mercedes engine and new car developments, Alpine officials anticipate better results without excuses.
Insights from Alpine’s Inner Circle Question Colapinto’s Progress Compared to Gasly
Andrew Benson, in his F1: Chequered Flag Australian Grand Prix Preview, shared insights from an Alpine insider who expressed reservations about Colapinto’s capabilities relative to his teammate Gasly. The Argentine driver is under increasing pressure after failing to score points last season as Alpine looks to become the leading team behind the sport’s top four.
Benson explained,
“I think Alpine and Haas are competing to be the next best after the top four, basically, that is the way it looks. Well, let me rephrase that, Gasly and Haas are competing to be the best of the rest after the top four.”
He continued,
“I am not going to tell you who I am quoting, but I am quoting someone from within Alpine. Franco Colapinto, his teammate, does not appear to be on the same level as Pierre Gasly.”
Alpine’s progress has in part been attributed to the switch to a Mercedes engine, given that the previous Renault power unit held them back. The team, similar to Williams, had stalled development in recent years to focus resources on adapting to regulation changes in 2026.
It looks like it has allowed them to do that, but can they hang onto it is the big question.
Performance Comparison During Pre-Season Practice in Melbourne
Despite the critical internal assessments, Colapinto demonstrated competitive performance during the opening practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, suggesting potential to challenge his teammate.
In the first practice session at Albert Park, Colapinto was the fastest Alpine driver, finishing 16th and outpacing Gasly by 0.71 seconds. However, Gasly reprised his lead in the second session, finishing 16th with Colapinto trailing 0.452 seconds behind in 18th place.
While Alpine entered the season hoping for a shot at a podium finish in Melbourne, the two practice sessions indicated that collecting points might be a more realistic objective for the team in the immediate term.
Team Expectations and Future Considerations for Alpine’s Driver Lineup
With Alpine’s ambitions set on bouncing back from a tough previous year, the internal debates over Colapinto’s place on the team are intensifying. If Colapinto fails to meet expectations throughout the 2026 season, Alpine could consider driver changes to strengthen their lineup alongside Gasly.
The pressure on Colapinto reflects Alpine’s broader goal to close the gap to the leading teams and establish itself as the foremost challenger behind the dominant top four outfits in Formula 1.
