Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Alpine team principal Steve Nielsen believes Franco Colapinto will elevate his performance during the 2026 Formula 1 season, describing the Argentine as a developing talent capable of delivering stronger results with improved machinery.
Franco Colapinto was drafted into Alpine’s 2025 line-up from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Jack Doohan was relieved of driving duties. However, in an uncompetitive package, Colapinto failed to score a point across the remainder of the season. His best result was 11th place in the Netherlands, and he averaged 0.315 seconds slower than team leader Pierre Gasly in qualifying across the 18 races they shared.
The Argentine had previously impressed during his 2024 appearances with Williams, scoring points in two of his first four grands prix, including a career-best eighth in Azerbaijan following his debut at Monza. That early promise contrasted sharply with his struggles in the 2025 Alpine machine.
For 2026, Alpine transitions from a works Renault power unit to a customer supply from Mercedes, alongside broader chassis revisions aimed at addressing inherent weaknesses from last year’s car. Nielsen stated that several structural issues have been corrected, particularly in ride characteristics and kerb handling.
“It is no secret that last year’s car had some inherent problems in it, and we’ve absolutely fixed some of those with this car, which is great,” Nielsen told media, including RacingNews365.
“The drivers can take a lot more kerb, and they’re not complaining about the ride, but I guess that’s because we’re not in the ground effects era anymore, so some big handicaps are fixed.”
Nielsen characterised Colapinto as a “slow burner,” suggesting his development curve may be more gradual than some contemporaries, but underlined that signs of competitive potential were visible even during a difficult campaign.
“Franco is a talent, and I think perhaps he is a slow burner, and perhaps he is developing slower than some of the others, but last year we saw him produce some good races, particularly in comparison to Pierre.
“Unfortunately, that was our only comparison for some races last year because we were at the back, but now I think Franco will get better with time.
“We’re already seeing it, and if we’ve given him a better car, which I am sure we have, then we’ll see the best of him.”
With Alpine targeting a return to the sharp end of Formula 1’s midfield in 2026, Colapinto’s progression will serve as a key indicator of the team’s technical recovery. If the revised package delivers as expected, the upcoming season may provide the platform required for the Argentine to translate early-career promise into sustained competitiveness.
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