Last Updated on September 20 2025, 10:24 am
While the future of Alpine’s driver line-up beyond 2025 is becoming clearer, the battle for the second cockpit remains wide open. During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, team boss Flavio Briatore spoke candidly about who will sit alongside Pierre Gasly from 2026, cutting through the usual swirl of paddock speculation.
Gasly is confirmed as Alpine’s lead driver for the upcoming regulations, yet his teammate’s identity remains undecided. While the rumour mill has churned out a familiar list of names, ranging from Red Bull juniors to experienced midfield drivers, Briatore was quick to dismiss most of them. He insisted that only two candidates are in contention, a stance that surprised many in Baku.
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Briatore narrows the field
The Italian, who recently returned to the F1 paddock in a leadership role, told The Race that talk of Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda and others being in Alpine’s sights was unfounded.
“It’s a decision between Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron,” he said. He explained that the team needs to carefully consider which of the two emerging stars offers the best balance of performance, adaptability and long-term growth.
Both Colapinto and Aron are regarded as strong prospects, but neither has yet reached the level of hype that once surrounded drivers such as Charles Leclerc or George Russell when they were coming up through the junior ranks. Briatore suggested that the current crop of young drivers lacks standout consistency, making the choice a nuanced one for Alpine.
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A barren driver market
Briatore was blunt in his assessment of the wider driver market.
“I don’t see any other options. We see other drivers, but we don’t feel there’s anything special there,” he remarked. For Alpine, the decision is not about playing it safe with an established name, but about betting on which of these two talents will mature into a top performer in time for the 2026 regulations.
This reflects a long-standing philosophy of Briatore’s, whereby he has often gambled on youth and potential rather than simply following the crowd. He recalled how Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all demonstrated their immense ability with early and sustained flashes of brilliance. Today’s drivers, he argued, struggle to demonstrate the same clarity of talent.
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Consistency as a benchmark
Briatore’s measure of greatness is consistency, and he pointed to the records of Schumacher, Hamilton, Alonso and even Rosberg to illustrate his point. When those drivers were rising through the ranks, their results did not fluctuate wildly from victory to obscurity in the midfield. Instead, they delivered week in, week out — a hallmark that convinced teams to invest in them early on.
“Have you seen the Formula 2 and Formula 3 races?” Briatore asked. “A driver wins one race and then finishes 14th in the next. Then he finishes third, and then 12th again. In our era, Hamilton would finish first, second, second, third, second, third, first and third.”
This, he stressed, is what separates the truly elite. Although sometimes overshadowed in his F1 career, Nico Rosberg demonstrated this same consistency as a junior, giving teams confidence that he could compete at the highest level, earning him a break when he joined Formula 1 with the Williams F1 team. And Hamilton dominated the junior formula’s before immediately challenging consistently for the F1 title with McLaren.
Colapinto versus Aron
The two drivers on Alpine’s list are at different stages in their development. Colapinto, the Argentinian, carries the weight of national expectation, as Argentina has not had a regular Formula 1 driver for decades. For Alpine, his marketability in South America could be an added incentive but the young driver must improve with his consistency for the remainder of the season with Alpine in order to secure his spot for next year.
Aron, the Estonian, has been a consistent performer in the junior categories, backed by a growing reputation for remaining calm under pressure. His path to Formula 1 has been steadier and perhaps less explosive, but it has been built on resilience and racing skill. For a team like Alpine, which has endured turbulence in recent years, Aron’s temperament may be an attractive quality.
However, both drivers still need to convert their promise into reliability. Briatore’s words suggest that Alpine will judge them not only on their raw pace, but also on their ability to consistently score points over an entire season.
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The wider implications
Briatore’s comments also highlight the shifting dynamics of Formula 1’s talent pipeline. While the junior formulas remain competitive, the absence of a dominant figure like Hamilton or Verstappen at every level means that teams must look further afield to identify the right investment. Alpine’s choice between Colapinto and Aron may become symbolic of the current landscape of the sport, where talent is spread thinly and no single driver emerges as the obvious next superstar.
It is also a gamble for Alpine’s long-term stability. Gasly’s position may be secure, but his own results have been inconsistent. Pairing him with another developing driver could either spark a resurgence or expose the team to more volatility at a time when the new engine regulations will test every squad.
A glimpse into Briatore’s philosophy
Despite his controversies, Briatore has an impressive track record of identifying and supporting talent. His faith in Schumacher, Alonso and others helped shape modern F1, and his belief that Alpine should look beyond safe, established names may yet prove wise.
His frustration with today’s junior drivers may also reflect how F1 has changed, with longer calendars, greater pressure, and fewer opportunities to shine consistently.
Nevertheless, Briatore’s decision to narrow the field to two names is a bold move in itself. In an era where teams often hedge their bets with multiple reserve drivers and lengthy evaluation programmes, Alpine’s clarity of choice sets it apart.
The coming months will be crucial for both Colapinto and Aron. Every race result will be scrutinised, not only for pace, but also for the consistency that Briatore demands. By the end of 2025, Alpine will need to make a decision, as driver contracts and car development for 2026 will be in their final stages.
For now, the speculation ends with just two names. In a sport where rumour often outweighs fact, Briatore has at least provided a clear indication of Alpine’s future direction. Whoever ultimately wins the seat, the decision will not only shape Alpine’s future, but also the next chapter in Formula 1’s evolving driver market.
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A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
