Alpine has officially announced that Argentine racer Franco Colapinto will stay with the team for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The decision ends weeks of speculation about whether the 23‑year‑old, who was initially called up mid‑season in 2025 to replace Jack Doohan after just six rounds, would earn a full‑time seat for another year. By confirming his place, Alpine also solidified its driver roster for 2027, with Pierre Gasly already locked into a long‑term contract as Colapinto's teammate.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive director, explained the rationale behind the move: "We are delighted to confirm our driver line‑up for 2027, with Franco remaining as a race driver alongside Pierre. Consistency is crucial for us.
We have now settled the driver side of the operation, and while that is an important piece of the puzzle, the primary focus remains on designing and building a fast, competitive car – that is still our number one priority." Briatore praised Colapinto’s development over the past year, noting that his performances in Miami and Montreal demonstrated his readiness for the sport’s top tier. "His seventh‑place finish in Miami and sixth in Canada showed that Franco belongs in Formula 1 and, more specifically, belongs with Alpine," he added. "I expect both Franco and Pierre to continue delivering strong results on track, while the whole team pushes relentlessly until we are fighting, and eventually winning, at the front of the grid." Colapinto’s 2026 season has already shown marked improvement.
Although he did not score any points during the 18 races he contested for Alpine in 2025, the introduction of a faster 2026 chassis has allowed him to achieve six top‑ten finishes in the first twelve rounds of the current campaign. His standout performances came in May, when he secured seventh place at the Miami Grand Prix followed by a sixth‑place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Those results were specifically highlighted by Briatore as evidence of his growing maturity and racecraft.
Speaking after the announcement, Colapinto expressed his enthusiasm about staying with the French outfit: "I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel happy and settled here, and it’s rewarding to see the progress we have made compared with last year.
We still have many milestones to reach, and I know the team is working extremely hard to extract performance and improve the car continuously. Our long‑term goal is clear – to compete for victories – and I am grateful to Flavio, Steve Nielsen and the whole Alpine organization for the trust they have placed in me.
I look forward to seeing how everything unfolds and will focus first and foremost on delivering the best possible performance on track." Colapinto’s journey to a full‑time F1 seat has been unconventional. He made his debut in Formula 1 in 2024 with Williams, stepping in as a surprise replacement for Logan Sargeant for the final nine races of that season.
Although he did not secure a permanent seat for 2025 – Williams had already confirmed its driver line‑up – his strong showings and the commercial appeal he brings from his Argentine fan base attracted Alpine’s attention. The team negotiated a "loan" arrangement with Williams, initially naming Colapinto as a reserve driver for Alpine in 2025.
When Jack Doohan’s future became uncertain early in the season, Alpine promoted Colapinto to the race seat, giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent on a regular basis. The decision to keep both Gasly and Colapinto for 2027 signals Alpine’s commitment to stability and continuity as it works to close the performance gap with the sport’s leading teams. Over the past few years, Alpine has invested heavily in aerodynamic development, power‑unit integration, and data analytics, aiming to produce a car capable of challenging Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari on a regular basis.
With a more experienced driver pairing, the team hopes to translate technical gains into consistent podium finishes and, eventually, race wins. Looking ahead, the 2027 calendar promises a mix of classic venues and new challenges. Fans can expect the traditional European staples such as Monaco, Silverstone and Spa‑Francorchamps, alongside newer locations that have been added to the schedule in recent years. As the sport continues to expand its global footprint, Alpine will need to adapt its strategies both on and off the track, balancing performance development with commercial partnerships and fan engagement across different markets.
In addition to the on‑track battles, Alpine will also be focusing on sustainability initiatives, aligning with Formula 1’s broader push toward greener technology. The team has pledged to increase the use of renewable energy in its operations and to explore more efficient power‑unit configurations that reduce carbon emissions without compromising speed. These efforts are expected to complement the technical upgrades planned for the 2027 car, potentially giving Alpine an edge in both performance and environmental responsibility. Overall, the confirmation of Franco Colapinto’s place in the 2027 line‑up underscores Alpine’s belief in his talent and potential.
It also reflects a strategic move toward driver continuity, which many experts argue is essential for building a cohesive team culture and extracting maximum performance from a complex racing machine. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Alpine to see whether the combination of a stable driver roster, a faster car, and a clear vision for the future can finally translate into the podium finishes and race victories the team has been striving for since its re‑branding from Renault.