Alpine explain decision to extend Franco Colapinto

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has explained the team's decision to extend Franco Colapinto for another F1 season.

The Enstone-based squad announced earlier today that it had penned an extension with Colapinto, keeping him alongside Pierre Gasly for the 2027 campaign.

Colapinto was handed a full-time drive at Alpine last year, stepping up in place of Jack Doohan.

After being kept onboard for the current campaign, there was brief speculation over a potential change at Alpine for 2027, with Fernando Alonso linked with a return to Enstone.

However, the team put all rumours to bed by extending Colapinto for another year.

Briatore detailed that retaining consistency was key for the team as it continues to make gains in the pecking order.

“We are very happy to confirm our driver line-up for 2027 with Franco staying as a race driver alongside Pierre,” Briatore said. 

“For me, having consistency is very important.”

After ending last year's championship in last place, Alpine currently sits sixth in the constructors' table, enjoying a strong surge in form.

Having now decided on its line-up, Briatore detailed the team can now put all its focus into car development.

“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,” he said.

“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 F1 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.”