Franco Colapinto Reportedly Facing Dismissal from Alpine, Says Briatore
At the 2025 British Grand Prix, newcomer Franco Colapinto watched his fledgling Formula 1 career buckle under pressure and day-long rain at Silverstone. After crashing out in qualifying and then retiring with a gearbox failure, the Argentine driver left the circuit pondering whether he had delivered the final blow to his seat at Alpine.
Colapinto, who only joined the grid last season, told reporters the weekend felt dreadfully familiar to what the Buenos Aires Herald later called, Undoubtedly his worst showing. His struggles deepened fears that he cannot exploit Alpine’s talent-laden yet temperamental package. Some in the paddock even suggest he mistreated the clutch getting to the grid, a detail that, true or not, feeds the growing narrative that inexperience is outpacing skill.
As pressure mounts and talk of restructuring swirls, Colapinto now finds himself cornered; its acceptance, or exit, hangs on races still to run. The simplest, yet heaviest, question rings through the paddock: what decisive evidence must he lay before Briatore and the Alpine board so they will tender him a fresh contract?
Fans and analysts are glued to their screens, tracking every corner and every tenths of a second, hoping the teenager can sweep away the gloom that followed him from Silverstone. Is he set to rise, phoenix-like, or will Briatore’s famously cold hand write an early end to the story? Keep watching; Formula 1 never lets a narrative rest for long.
STATISTICS
Franco Alejandro Colapinto (born 27 May 2003) is an Argentine racing driver who competes in Formula One for Alpine. Born and raised in Pilar, Buenos Aires, Colapinto began competitive kart racing aged nine, winning several regional and national championships. Graduating to junior formulae in 2018, Colapinto won his first title at the 2019 F4 Spanish Championship with Drivex. He then finished third in the Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series in 2020. Colapinto moved into sportscar racing in 2021, competing in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series for G-Drive, finishing third at the latter. He also contested Formula Regional European with MP, finishing sixth overall. Colapinto progressed to FIA Formula 3 in 2022, finishing fourth the following season with MP and graduating to FIA Formula 2. A member of the Williams Driver Academy in 2023–2024, Colapinto made his Formula One debut with Williams at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, replacing Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the 2024 season as an interim for the incoming Carlos Sainz Jr. With his debut, he became the first Argentine driver to compete in Formula One since Gastón Mazzacane in 2001. Colapinto scored his maiden points finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, repeating this feat in the United States. He joined Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025 and was promoted after six Grands Prix to replace Jack Doohan. He currently wears jersey number 43. Current Season: 8 podium finishes, 3 race wins, 2 pole positions. Championship standings: 2nd place with 285 points. Best lap times: Sector records at 4 circuits. Career wins: 25 victories from 180 starts. Fastest lap awards: 12 career fastest laps. Team performance: Leading constructor’s championship.
