Previously, he had questioned Jack Doohan's presence and now supports the Argentine, whom he believes will be given more than five races
Although the incident in qualifying left an unfavorable first impression and his performance in the race wasn't particularly outstanding, Steiner believes that Alpine has true confidence in the Argentine's potential. "I think they really trust Franco, that he's not there just for his sponsors' money. Alpine and Renault don't need it," he commented.
After his official debut with Alpine in Imola, marked by the accident he suffered during qualifying, Franco Colapinto will face his second experience with the team next weekend as part of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
After his presentation in Imola, one of those who commented on the matter was Guenther Steiner, former Team Principal of the Haas team in F1. The Italian addressed the rumors about a possible early departure of the Argentine driver after the first five races.
"They won't take him out. Who would they put in? Who would Flavio put in? I don't know if his agreement is for five races," Steiner commented during his participation in the podcast The Red Flags. "It wasn't a good start for him, but who would you put in the Alpine? I think Alpine needs to calm down, stop making changes that don't work," he added, in a message pointing to the need for stability within the team.
Meanwhile, the former Haas director also ventured to project the near future of the driver and the team. "I think Colapinto will continue until the end of the season," he stated. He explained his reasoning: "Changing again wouldn't look good, it would make you an unstable team."
After what happened in Imola, Colapinto's situation remains complex. The accident meant a setback, but from that point, the young Argentine focused on accumulating kilometers, completing the race and continuing to learn about the behavior of the car on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix circuit.
Now, the next goal is to regain confidence, continue his evolution as a driver, and face the demands of the legendary urban circuit of the Principality. The challenge in Monaco will be key to continuing to build his path in the top category. The season is still long, with multiple opportunities ahead to demonstrate his true level and establish himself within the team.
