Alpine has officially secured Franco Colapinto through the 2027 Formula 1 season, exercising its contract option ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Argentine driver will continue alongside Pierre Gasly, maintaining an unchanged team lineup for the Enstone-based squad under the Mercedes engine era.
Alpine Secures Driver Lineup Stability for 2027
Alpine has officially exercised its contract option to retain Franco Colapinto through the 2027 Formula 1 season, guaranteeing an unchanged driver lineup that pairs the Argentine driver alongside Pierre Gasly. The confirmation was announced on Thursday, August 27, locking in the team’s pairing for a third consecutive year and providing the Enstone-based squad with vital continuity amidst the ongoing development under the Mercedes engine regulations.
Executive advisor Flavio Briatore delayed the final decision past the option deadline that expired on Monday, August 24, while assessing broader driver market possibilities. Following internal discussions, however, the team finalized the extension ahead of the race weekend at Monza, with Briatore emphasizing that consistency remains a primary cornerstone for the garage.
“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 number one priority.”
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor
Colapinto’s Path From Reserve to Full-Time Contender
Colapinto’s journey to a secured 2027 seat reflects a rapid ascent through the paddock. He initially entered Formula 1 midway through the 2024 season with Williams, substituting for Logan Sargeant starting at Monza and making an immediate impact by scoring points in just his second race with an eighth-place finish in Baku.
After joining Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025, Colapinto stepped into the race seat following the Miami Grand Prix as a replacement for Jack Doohan. He made steady progress over the remainder of the 2025 campaign, earning a full-time drive for 2026. With Alpine shifting to Mercedes power units under the 2026 technical regulations, the team established itself firmly in mid-pack contention, working with Gasly to help the team to P6 in the Teams’ Championship.
Strong Partnership and 2026 World Championship Points
Heading into the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Colapinto has contributed 19 points toward Alpine’s overall total of 63 points in the Constructors’ World Championship across six Grands Prix so far this season. He has formed a strong partnership both on and off track with Gasly, who signed a deal to race with Alpine until at least the end of 2028 around this time last year.
“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.”
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor
Team management noted that the combination of Colapinto and Gasly provides the perfect match-up to drive the team forwards into the future. Briatore added that he expects both Franco and Pierre to continue doing a fantastic job on track and for the entire team to push relentlessly until they are fighting, and winning, at the front end of the sport.
Looking Ahead to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza
The contract announcement arrives ahead of next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, which serves as the 13th round of the 2026 season and takes place from September 4–6 at Monza. For the upcoming weekend, Colapinto will receive the upgraded package that Alpine debuted ahead of schedule with Gasly last time out in Zandvoort.
Expressing his gratitude following the announcement, Colapinto emphasized his comfort and long-term ambitions within the Enstone setup as the team targets higher milestones on the grid alongside Managing Director Steve Nielsen.
“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 Steve, 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.”
Franco Colapinto, Racing Driver
