Alpine extends Franco Colapinto for 2027 F1 season

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 22: Fourteenth placed qualifier Franco Colapinto of Argentina and Alpine F1 looks on in the Pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 22, 2026 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) | Formula 1 via Getty Images The Formula 1 driver transfer market is shaping up to be a case of the status quo. Already this season, Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon, and Max Verstappen have inked contract extensions with their current teams. Now you can add Franco Colapinto to the list, as the young driver agreed to a contract extension for Alpine through the 2027 season. After debuting with Williams during the 2024 season, replacing Logan Sargeant midway through the year and delivering a P8 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in just his second F1 race, Colapinto moved to Alpine in a reserve role for the 2025 campaign. He slid into Jack Doohan’s seat after just six races, as Flavio Briatore looked to spark the team early in the year after a slow start to the campaign. But with Alpine focused on the 2026 season and the incoming regulation set, Colapinto did not score a point after taking over for Doohan. Things have been very different for Colapinto and Alpine this year. With Alpine shuttering the team’s power unit program and becoming a customer team of Mercedes, those power units have powered Alpine up the grid, as the team currently sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship standings with 63 points, nearly triple their tally from 2025. While veteran Pierre Gasly has led the way with 44 points — although his P3 at the Monaco Grand Prix remains somewhat in doubt as both McLaren and Red Bull have the matter in the FIA’s International Court of Appeal — Colapinto has scored 19 points this season, including a P6 at the Canadian Grand Prix. In the official announcement, Alpine called this a “breakout” campaign for Colapinto, and Briatore himself said that the driver “belongs” at Alpine. “We are very happy to confirm our driver line-up for 2027 with Franco staying as a race driver alongside Pierre. For me, having consistency is very important,” said Briatore. “We are now settled from a driver point of view and I have said many times that, while this is an important piece of the puzzle, the most significant we have to get right is designing and building a fast race car which absolutely remains our number one priority. We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year. “His results in Miami and Montréal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula One and he belongs at this team. I expect both Franco, and Pierre, to continue doing a fantastic job on track and for the entire team to push relentlessly until we are fighting, and winning, at the front end of this sport.” Colapinto said he was “pleased” to be staying at Alpine for 2027. “I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel very happy and very settled here and it’s been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last,” said Colapinto. “We have a lot more milestones to reach and I know the team is working so hard in finding performance and making the car better and better. Our long-term goals are obvious – to compete and win – and I am grateful to the team, Flavio and Steve [Nielsen, Alpine’s managing director], for the trust placed in me to be one of its drivers going into the future. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out and focusing on my job on-track first and foremost.” F1 returns to action next week at Monza, for the Italian Grand Prix.

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