Alpine’s new off-track issue with Franco Colapinto adds to uncertainty over his F1 future

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Franco Colapinto is under pressure from Alpine to keep his seat in Formula 1 in 2026, and the Enstone outfit are starting to pick up on more issues with the Argentine.

Colapinto took over from Jack Doohan six races into 2025 but hasn’t been able to keep up with Pierre Gasly. This season, Gasly has picked up points in every race, while Colapinto only managed his first points finish for Alpine in Shanghai.

The gap between them has been most obvious during qualifying. Sources inside the team say that Colapinto isn’t on Gasly’s level, and now there could be concerns about him off the track as well.

Sam Bird believes Colapinto is being “slaughtered” by Gasly this year, with the Frenchman making good use of the Mercedes power unit. Gasly has reached Q3 at every round so far except one, including China Sprint, while Colapinto hasn’t made it into the top 10 once.

With his contract set to expire this year, Guenther Steiner suggested that if things don’t improve soon for Colapinto’s time at Alpine could come to an end before season’s end.

Franco Colapinto’s qualifying struggles could become a bigger issue for Alpine

Scott Mitchell-Malm spoke on The Race F1 Podcast about the growing attention on Colapinto’s qualifying struggles. He suggested that if the form doesn’t improve, it could turn into a significant problem for Alpine.

“I just think, the way Alpine’s looking at it, you’re just going to have a bit of a doubt about whether or not this qualifying deficit can be eradicated,” he said.

“And then the way F1 is, even in an era of yo-yo racing or battery racing or whatever you want to call it, grid position is still massively important, track position is still massively important.

“And there will come a point where the, ‘Oh, if only this had happened, it would have been a slightly better result’, the patience’s going to wear out for that.

“And I think the fact that Alpine had to put out the statement they did off the back of Japan does point to another potential problem.

“Which is that, if the team has to deal with this massive narrative around Colapinto too often, that will ultimately count against him if it gets to a point of a near 50/50 decision on whether to keep him or replace him.”

Jon Noble then pointed towards Williams driver Albon as an option: “I think one of those Williams drivers is primed for potentially moving on just because that team isn’t at the level it was anticipated to be.

“And if you’re looking at hard fast results what’s a team that seems to be pushing forwards? Which power unit do you want to have underneath you what can have decent potential? I think Albon does make a lot of sense.”

Alex Dunne and Paul Aron unlikely to step in for Franco Colapinto at Alpine

Alpine could look within their own ranks if they decide to part ways with Colapinto. Alex Dunne, who recently arrived from McLaren, and reserve driver Paul Aron are the obvious candidates. But Scott Mitchell-Malm doesn’t see either as a likely choice.

“In the Alpine mix, I don’t think Alex Dunne or Paul Aron will likely take any vacancy that arises should they get rid of Colapinto,” he said.

“You’d imagine Aron’s in the best place as the current reserve, and he’s had opportunities in FP1 and private testing.

“But I suspect they want to go with someone proven rather than go in that kind of inexperienced direction. Wouldn’t rule it out, and I think Aron is probably better placed.

“I think Dunne’s too much of a wildcard. I think there’s a driver with loads of ability there, but I think he’s too rough, to be completely honest. There’s a bit of a worry that he doesn’t learn the lessons that he needs to.”

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