Alpine has officially announced that Argentine driver Franco Colapinto will remain with the squad for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The decision puts to rest any lingering doubts about the future of the 23‑year‑old, who was originally called up midway through the 2025 campaign to replace Jack Doohan after just six rounds. By confirming Colapinto’s place alongside long‑term teammate Pierre Gasly, Alpine has now laid out its complete driver roster for the 2027 calendar.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive director, expressed his satisfaction with the lineup: "We are delighted to confirm our driver line‑up for 2027 with Franco staying as a race driver alongside Pierre. Consistency is vital for us, and we now have a settled driver pair. While the driver package is an essential piece of the puzzle, our primary focus remains the design and construction of a competitive car – that is still our number one priority." Briatore went on to praise Colapinto’s development over the past year, highlighting his performances in Miami and Montreal as proof that the young Argentine belongs in Formula 1 and, specifically, at Alpine. "I have seen Franco grow into a great driver this season.
His results in Miami and Montreal confirmed what I already believed: Franco is a Formula 1 driver and he fits perfectly with this team. I expect both Franco and Pierre to continue delivering strong performances on track, while the whole team works relentlessly to fight for podiums and ultimately victories at the front of the sport," he added. Colapinto’s record with Alpine last season was modest – he did not score any points in the 18 races he contested.
However, the introduction of a faster 2026 chassis has already yielded tangible improvements. In the first twelve rounds of the current season, the Argentine has secured six top‑ten finishes, a marked step up from his previous year. His standout outings came in May, when he finished seventh at the Miami Grand Prix and then improved to sixth in Canada, results that Briatore specifically cited as evidence of his rapid progress. Speaking after the announcement, Colapinto said he was thrilled to stay with Alpine for another year.
"I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel happy and settled here, and it has been even more rewarding to see the significant progress we have made compared to last year. We still have many milestones to achieve, and I know the team is working tirelessly to extract performance and make the car better and better.
Our long‑term goals are clear – to compete and win – and I am grateful to Flavio, Steve Nielsen and the entire Alpine family for the trust they have placed in me. I look forward to seeing how everything unfolds and will focus on my job on‑track above all else," he explained. Colapinto’s Formula 1 journey began in 2024 when he stepped in for Williams as a surprise replacement for Logan Sargeant during the final nine rounds of that season.
Although he initially had no confirmed seat for 2025 – Williams had already locked in its driver lineup – his impressive performances and the commercial appeal he generated in his native Argentina caught the attention of Alpine. The French team negotiated a "loan" arrangement with Williams, bringing Colapinto into their fold as a reserve driver for the start of 2025.
When Jack Doohan’s seat became available early in the 2025 season, Alpine promoted Colapinto from reserve to full‑time race driver, a move that surprised many observers given Doohan’s own uncertainty about his future at the time. The decision proved prescient, as the young Argentine has continued to develop, showing a blend of speed, racecraft, and composure that suggests a promising future. Looking ahead, Alpine’s 2027 ambitions are anchored in stability and performance.
With Pierre Gasly already secured on a long‑term contract and Franco Colapinto now confirmed, the team can concentrate on engineering a car capable of challenging the traditional front‑running outfits. Briatore emphasized that while driver consistency is essential, the ultimate success will hinge on delivering a fast, reliable machine that can consistently fight for podiums and, eventually, race wins.
Fans can anticipate a busy schedule as the 2026 Formula 1 calendar rolls out, with races streamed worldwide and additional content such as the F1 Show podcast and Sky Sports updates available via WhatsApp. As the sport heads to iconic venues like Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Alpine will be keen to showcase the progress made with their driver lineup and technical package.
The partnership between Gasly and Colapinto, backed by a clear strategic vision from the team’s leadership, sets the stage for an exciting 2027 season where Alpine aims to move from being a midfield contender to a genuine challenger for race victories.