Alpine to Colapinto: We need time for your talent to mature

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen is standing by Franco Colapinto, stating the young Argentine needs "time for that talent to mature and deliver" after a point-less 2025 season. Nielsen attributes the struggles primarily to an uncompetitive A525 car, not the driver's ability, setting a clear narrative of patience and development for the team's 2026 ambitions.

Why it matters:

This statement is a crucial piece of expectation management for a team in a deep rebuild. After a disastrous 2025 where they finished last in the constructors' championship, Alpine is framing its 2026 driver lineup as a long-term project. Colapinto's performance will be a key barometer for the success of Alpine's new era under the 2026 regulations, and this public support shields him from immediate pressure while the team focuses on delivering a competitive car.

The details:

• Colapinto showed flashes of brilliance during his 2024 cameo at Williams, scoring points in just his second race and impressing with his raw pace.
• However, his first full season at Alpine in 2025 yielded zero points, with the team finishing last in the constructors' championship.
• The Car vs. The Driver: Nielsen was blunt, stating, "the brutal reality is that our car was not fast enough to score points," and added that both Colapinto and Pierre Gasly are "better than the car."
• Alpine halted development of its 2025 car early to focus resources on the massive rule changes for the 2026 season, leaving them to fall behind rivals who continued to upgrade their machines throughout the year.
• The team's primary goal for 2026 is stability and points from both sides of the garage, a stark contrast to 2025 where the second car failed to score a single point with two different drivers.

Looking Ahead:

The 2026 season represents a fresh start for the entire Alpine organization. With a brand-new car designed for ground-up regulations, the team's primary focus is on building a machine capable of regularly fighting for points. For Colapinto, the challenge is to convert the raw speed he's shown into consistent results. As Nielsen emphasized, the team's success hinges on having "two drivers scoring in the championship," placing the onus on both the team's engineers and its young driver to deliver on their shared potential.