'Mature' Franco Colapinto extends contact with Alpine through 2027

Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto will line up alongside Pierre Gasly for Alpine again in the 2027 season after the Formula One team confirmed their line-up on Thursday.

The 23-year-old made his Grand Prix debut in 2024 for Williams before joining Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025.

He was promoted after six rounds to replace Jack Doohan, producing a best result of 11th at the Dutch Grand Prix.

This season he has already picked up 19 world championship points, scoring in six of the 12 Grands Prix so far, finishing seventh in Miami and sixth in Canada.

"We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year," said team principal Flavio Briatore. "His results in Miami and Montreal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula One and he belongs at this team."

Colapinto, the first Formula One driver from Argentina since Gaston Mazzacane at the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix, said he felt "very happy and very settled" at Alpine.

"It's been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last," he said.

"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."

– AFP