Alpine Boss: Colapinto Needs Time to Mature and Deliver in F1

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen is standing by Franco Colapinto for the 2026 season, arguing that the young Argentine needs time to mature into a consistent points-scorer. This comes after a difficult 2025 campaign where Colapinto failed to score, a performance Nielsen attributes more to the team's uncompetitive A525 car than the driver's ability. The Enstone-based outfit is betting on stability and long-term potential as it looks to rebound from a disastrous season.

Why it matters:

After finishing last in the 2025 constructors' championship with just 22 points, Alpine is at a critical juncture. Retaining Colapinto signals a strategic shift from short-term fixes to building a foundation for the future under new 2026 regulations. The team's success hinges on developing a competitive car that can allow both its drivers to fight for points, addressing a key weakness from the previous season where only one car regularly scored.

The details:

• A Tale of Two Seasons: Colapinto impressed during his 2024 cameo with Williams, scoring points in Baku and Austin. However, he could not replicate that form with Alpine in 2025, finishing the year scoreless after replacing Jack Doohan mid-season.
• Nielsen's Assessment: Nielsen acknowledged Colapinto's youth and development curve, stating, "Franco is a young driver. We’ve seen other young drivers go through good and difficult periods; he’s on that journey." He noted there were races where Colapinto was "a match for Pierre [Gasly], and on a couple of occasions, maybe even faster."
• The Car Was the Problem: Nielsen was blunt about the team's biggest issue, admitting, "the brutal reality is that our car was not fast enough to score points. I think both drivers we have now are better than the car." The team halted development of the A525 early to focus on the 2026 project.
• Need for Two Scorers: A major takeaway for Alpine was the failure to have both cars in the points. "We need stability in the second car, and we need to give time for that talent to mature and deliver points for us. You need two drivers," Nielsen emphasized.

What's next:

All of Alpine's focus now shifts to the 2026 car and the new regulatory era. Colapinto will benefit from a full pre-season testing program—a crucial advantage he lacked in 2025. The team's ability to provide a competitive chassis will be the ultimate test, determining if their faith in the young driver and their ambitious rebuild can return them to the midfield and beyond.