Why Franco Colapinto Might Remain at Alpine Despite Underperforming

Franco Colapinto’s move to Alpine midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season has brought challenges, but the Argentine driver’s seat at Enstone is not in immediate danger.



Team management is mindful of the circumstances surrounding his abrupt arrival and believe these factors have played a role in his inconsistent performances so far.



Barring a major surprise, Colapinto is expected to complete the remainder of the season with Alpine.



However, uncertainty remains over his position for 2026 as the team evaluates its future line-up.



From Skepticism to F1 Breakthrough



When Colapinto debuted in F1 last year, replacing the underperforming Logan Sargeant, many doubted his ability to make an impact.



His rookie Formula 2 season, while stronger than rivals like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman in the standings, was still viewed by some as insufficient justification for such a sudden promotion.



This perception overlooked his career context.



As James Vowles highlighted repeatedly last season, Colapinto often competed with limited funding and reduced testing time compared to his peers.



Given those constraints, his junior results reflected a higher level of skill than the headline numbers suggested.



Colapinto quickly justified his chance, scoring points for Williams in just his second race weekend.



He also impressed in qualifying, running close to teammate Alex Albon.



The Pressure of Early Success



That strong start came with a downside.



Colapinto’s rapid rise generated media attention and heightened expectations almost overnight.



Red Bull’s consideration of him as a potential Sergio Perez replacement showed how quickly his stock had grown.



Alpine’s decision to replace Jack Doohan with Colapinto after Miami was followed by a multi-year deal signed in January, suggesting long-term plans for him.



Yet his promising Williams form has not carried over at Alpine.



Struggles in 2025



The combination of Alpine’s underperforming A525, limited track time, and operational missteps has hindered Colapinto’s ability to replicate earlier success.



Despite speculation about a race-by-race contract, the team intends to give him the full season to prove himself.



They plan to monitor his performance closely before deciding on 2026.



Assessing the Bigger Picture



On paper, Colapinto’s results may not meet Alpine’s ambitions, and his crash count has not gone unnoticed by team advisor Flavio Briatore.



However, deeper analysis shows he is competing respectably given the circumstances.



He has already outqualified Pierre Gasly twice this year, a notable achievement for someone without a pre-season.



On race days, his pace relative to Gasly has been competitive, though the car’s lack of speed has kept points out of reach.



Given the A525’s status as the slowest car on the grid, replacing Colapinto mid-season would be unlikely to deliver better results.



With no performance upgrades planned for the remainder of the season, Alpine’s focus will shift toward 2026 development rather than driver changes.



The coming months will serve as an extended audition for Colapinto, with his long-term future to be decided only after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The post Why Franco Colapinto Might Remain at Alpine Despite Underperforming appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .