Franco Colapinto: Alpine confirm Argentine driver to remain with team for 2027 season alongside Pierre Gasly

There had been uncertainty over whether the 23-year-old would be kept on for a second full campaign having been drafted in to replace Jack Doohan after just six rounds of the 2025 season.

The announcement confirms Alpine's driver line-up for 2027, with Colapinto's team-mate Pierre Gasly already signed to a long-term deal.

Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore said: "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. 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 No 1 priority.

"We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year. His results in Miami and Montreal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula 1 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 failed to score a points across the 18 rounds he drove in for Alpine last year, but has taken advantage of the team's faster 2026 car to claim six top-10 finishes in the first 12 rounds of this season.

His best performances, referenced by Briatore, came in successive races in May as he finished seventh in the Miami Grand Prix before backing up that result with sixth in Canada.

Colapinto said: "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.

"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 (managing director) Steve (Nielsen), 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."

Colapinto made his F1 debut in 2024 for Williams when he was named as a surprise replacement for Logan Sargeant for the final nine rounds of the season.

While he was initially without a seat for 2025 as Williams' line-up was already confirmed, his performances, along with sponsorship opportunities that came with his popularity in Argentina, convinced Alpine to sign him on what was said at the time to be a "loan" deal from Williams.

He started 2025 as Alpine reserve driver but was soon given Doohan's seat, with the Australian having faced speculation over his future before the season had even begun.

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