Alpine has officially announced that Argentine driver Franco Colapinto will remain with the team for the 2027 Formula One season. The decision puts an end to the speculation that had surrounded the 23‑year‑old after he was promoted from a reserve role to replace Jack Doohan midway through the 2025 campaign. By confirming Colapinto’s place alongside Pierre Gasly – who is already tied to Alpine on a long‑term contract – the French outfit has laid out its complete driver roster for the next year. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive director, praised the move, stating, "We are delighted to lock in our 2027 driver line‑up with Franco staying as a race driver alongside Pierre.
Consistency is vital for us, and now we have a stable driver line‑up. While the driver is an important part of the puzzle, our primary focus remains on designing and building a fast, competitive car." Briatore went on to highlight Colapinto’s rapid development, noting that the Argentine’s performances in Miami and Montreal demonstrated his readiness for a permanent seat in the sport. During the 2026 season, Colapinto has already shown marked improvement.
Although he did not score points in any of the 18 races he contested for Alpine in 2025, the introduction of a more competitive 2026 chassis has enabled him to secure six top‑ten finishes in the first twelve rounds of the current campaign. His standout results came in May, when he finished seventh at the Miami Grand Prix and then improved to sixth in Canada, performances that Briatore specifically cited as evidence of his growing maturity and pace.
Colapinto himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with the team, saying, "I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel very happy and very settled here, and it’s even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last.
We have many milestones ahead, 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 the team, Flavio and Steve Nielsen for the trust they have placed in me. I look forward to seeing how everything plays out and focusing on my job on‑track first and foremost." Colapinto’s journey to a full‑time F1 seat has been unconventional.
He made his debut in 2024 with Williams, stepping in for Logan Sargeant for the final nine rounds of that season. Although he was initially left without a drive for 2025 because Williams had already confirmed its line‑up, his strong performances and the commercial appeal he brings from his Argentine fan base prompted Alpine to bring him in on what was described at the time as a "loan" arrangement from Williams. He began 2025 as Alpine’s reserve driver, but after Jack Doohan’s seat became uncertain, Colapinto was promoted to a race seat, effectively ending Doohan’s stint before the season even got fully underway.
Looking ahead, Alpine’s strategy appears to centre on stability and gradual development. With Gasly secured long‑term and Colapinto now confirmed for another year, the team can focus its resources on technical progress rather than driver turnover. Briatore emphasized that the ultimate objective remains to produce a car capable of challenging for podiums and, eventually, victories. He added that the team’s engineering department is working on aerodynamic upgrades, power‑unit integration, and tyre management strategies to close the gap to the front‑running squads.
The broader context of the 2026‑2027 seasons includes a reshaped calendar and evolving regulations. The 2026 race schedule features a mix of classic European venues and newer markets, with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza slated for September 4‑6. Fans can stream every race without a contract through various platforms, and Sky Sports continues to provide extensive coverage, including podcasts and WhatsApp updates for dedicated followers.
In summary, Alpine’s confirmation of Franco Colapinto for 2027 signals a commitment to continuity and development. The Argentine driver has already begun to reap the benefits of a faster 2026 car, and his partnership with the experienced Pierre Gasly offers a blend of youth and seasoned insight. As the team works to refine its machinery and chase the ultimate goal of winning races, the stability provided by a settled driver line‑up could prove to be a decisive factor in the highly competitive world of Formula One.