Colapinto's Maturity Secures Alpine Contract Extension

Flavio Briatore, Alpine's Executive Advisor, has cited Franco Colapinto's remarkable maturity and increased sense of responsibility as the key factors behind the young Argentine driver securing a new contract with the team. Colapinto, who joined Alpine as a reserve driver earlier this year and subsequently replaced Jack Doohan, has evidently impressed Briatore and the team with his evolving approach to racing and engineering.

Why it matters:

After a period of internal skepticism regarding Colapinto's performance, Briatore's renewed trust in the driver, coupled with his assessment of the current driver market, suggests Alpine is focusing on stability and developing its existing talent pool. This move signals Alpine's strategic direction for its driver lineup and its commitment to nurturing young drivers within its program, aiming for a 'super' partnership alongside Pierre Gasly.

The Details:

• Briatore's Observations: Flavio Briatore noted a significant "change" in Colapinto, particularly in his "maturity" over recent months. He described Colapinto as a "different guy, with more responsibility."
• Team Evolution: Colapinto's understanding of the team dynamics and engineering aspects has "really surprised" Briatore.
• Initial Skepticism Overcome: Initially, many within the team were not convinced by Colapinto's performance, but his recent development has evidently swayed opinions.
• Limited Alternatives: Briatore explained that Alpine had limited choices for alternative drivers. He mentioned Paul Aron as a promising but still very young talent requiring more experience.
• Current Lineup Trust: Briatore expressed confidence in the current "Gasly and Colapinto line-up," emphasizing the stability it brings to the Enstone-based squad.
• Recent Performance: Pierre Gasly recently scored points at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, finishing eighth in the Sprint and tenth in the main race, marking his first points finish since the Belgian GP.

The Big Picture:

Alpine is clearly looking for a consistent and stable driver pairing to move forward. With Esteban Ocon's departure and the search for a new teammate for Pierre Gasly, Colapinto's progression offers a strong internal solution. Briatore's emphasis on maturity over raw speed or experience in a challenging F1 landscape underscores a strategic shift towards building a cohesive team environment and investing in long-term potential.

What's next:

With Briatore's backing, Colapinto is set to continue his development within Alpine. His contractual extension solidifies his position, and the focus will now be on translating this newfound maturity and responsibility into consistent on-track performance. The team will be looking to further integrate Colapinto alongside Gasly, hoping this 'super' partnership will bring stability and improved results in the upcoming seasons.