Alpine decide, Colapinto finished – Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 dream is sliding towards collapse. What began with high hopes and strong backing at Alpine has unraveled into one of the season’s most underwhelming stories, with the Argentine rookie now facing an almost certain exit from the grid after Abu Dhabi.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the decision has effectively been made: Colapinto’s time as Alpine’s race driver will end this year, no matter what. It’s a blunt assessment that matches what many within the paddock have suspected for months—that Alpine, despite its initial show of confidence, has lost faith in a driver who has failed to deliver.

Colapinto’s promotion was seen as bold but calculated. The Enstone team needed fresh energy after years of inconsistency, and Flavio Briatore, returning as an advisor, pushed hard for Colapinto as a symbol of Alpine’s new chapter. With sponsorship ties in Argentina and support from Renault’s regional arm, the deal made business sense as well.

 

 

 

Colapinto plagued by errors

But on track, the results have been grim. Colapinto remains the only full-time driver without a single championship point in 2025. He has often qualified at the back of the grid and, worse, has gained a reputation for errors that compromise not only his races but also the team’s development efforts.

The most glaring example came on August 6 during Pirelli’s tyre test in Hungary, when Colapinto crashed heavily. Though he escaped injury, the accident inflicted major damage on Alpine’s car and disrupted important data collection. For a team fighting to regain ground in the midfield, the setback was costly.

Those inside Alpine admit the problem isn’t raw speed but composure. Colapinto showed flashes of pace during his junior career, but in F1 he has looked tentative, often hesitant under pressure. Team insiders say he has struggled to adapt to the car’s handling characteristics and is frequently outshone by his teammate, who extracts more consistent performance.

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Poor Williams form continued

“Franco has the backing, but in this sport that only takes you so far,” said one paddock insider. “The team needs points. Sponsors need results. You can’t crash out of test sessions and expect people to stay patient.”

This isn’t the first time Colapinto has faced turbulent times in F1. At Williams, his previous team, he endured a stop-start stint marked by mixed performances. Though he occasionally impressed, his lack of consistency raised doubts about his long-term future. Alpine’s decision to sign him was seen by many as a gamble, albeit one supported by financial incentives and political connections.

Now, the gamble looks to have failed. His case is reminiscent of other rookies whose careers fizzled out after promising starts—drivers like Sergey Sirotkin or Esteban Gutiérrez, who arrived with backing but could not sustain results.

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Hurting Alpine’s development

Colapinto’s commercial value has been one of his strongest assets. Backed by Argentine sponsors and promoted as a figurehead for Renault’s South American markets, he was seen as a useful tool for Alpine’s global outreach. But even corporate support has its limits. Sponsors want visibility at the front, not in the shadows of the midfield with a driver struggling for relevance.

There’s also the internal frustration: Alpine’s engineers argue that time and resources spent repairing damage from crashes could have been used developing the car. “Every crash puts us back a step,” admitted one team source after Hungary. “We can’t afford that.”

If Colapinto’s exit is sealed, attention turns to Alpine’s 2026 lineup. Several names are in the frame. Young drivers from Alpine’s academy, such as Jack Doohan, remain in contention, while outsiders like Mick Schumacher or Felipe Drugovich could be tempting if Alpine seeks a safer pair of hands.

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What next for Alpine?

Some even speculate Alpine could make an audacious move for a proven veteran like Valtteri Bottas, should he not finalise his deal with Cadillac. Given Alpine’s recent track record with drivers, however, any choice will be scrutinised heavily.

For Colapinto, Formula 1 opportunities are closing, but his motorsport career is far from over. Thanks to his sponsor base, he would be a strong candidate for IndyCar, where South American drivers have historically flourished, or the World Endurance Championship, where manufacturers value both talent and commercial pull.

Still, leaving F1 would be a bitter pill. For a driver who once carried the weight of Argentina’s hopes for a new F1 hero, the collapse of his Alpine adventure could be the end of the road at the sport’s top level.

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Colapinto finished in F1

Ultimately, Colapinto’s struggles are just one part of Alpine’s wider malaise. The team has been in turmoil for years, plagued by leadership changes, internal politics, and a lack of direction. Pinning their hopes on Colapinto was perhaps unfair—a rookie can only do so much in a car that isn’t competitive.

But Formula 1 is unforgiving. Patience is thin, and excuses run out quickly. Colapinto has had chances to impress and has not taken them. In a cutthroat market, where rising stars like Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad are waiting in the wings, the luxury of time simply doesn’t exist.

Barring a miraculous turnaround in the final races, Colapinto’s story with Alpine is heading for an abrupt end in Abu Dhabi. From there, he may have to rebuild his career elsewhere, while Alpine reshuffles once again in search of stability.

For fans of Sepang-like chaos and midfield drama, Colapinto has provided plenty of talking points. But in a results-driven business, drama without points is a recipe for dismissal. His F1 journey may not be entirely over—but it is hanging by the thinnest of threads.

 

 

 

Williams simulations show 2026 overtaking is easier

Formula 1 is bracing for its biggest regulatory reset in years, with all-new aerodynamics and a 50/50 hybrid engine formula arriving in 2026. But while some fear the changes could make racing more restrained, Williams team principal James Vowles insists overtaking will not suffer.

The teams have been simulating the 2026 cars for some time, with early Red Bull results leading to Christian Horner describing them as creations of “Frankenstein.”Concerns persist that the upping of the hybrid component from wound 1/6th to a half of the title power output of the new powertrains will lead to strange goings on, like drivers having to shift down a gear to create the extra engird required, where they wold be normally running flat out.

A big power wow took place in Bahrain this season, where the FIA offered the teams the options of retaining the current power units while a better solution was found. Others suggested turning down the electrical component so it has a 60/40 split in favour of the internal combustion engine, but the German manufacturers stood united and resisted either option…. READ MORE