The good moment of Franco Colapinto in the Formula 1 was once again evident not only for the spectators but also for the specialists. After completing one of his strongest weekends with Alpine, the Argentine was chosen among the standout drivers of the Spanish Grand Prix and reached fourth place in the Power Rankings of the weekend.
The native of Pilar received a rating of 8.2 out of 10 and was only behind the drivers who finished on the podium: Lando Norris (McLaren) with 9.6, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) with 8.8, and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) with 8.6. Further back were Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) with 7.8, Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) with 7.8, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) with 7.6, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) with 7.3 despite his DNF in the race, Esteban Ocon (Haas) with 7.2, and Liam Lawson (Red Bull) with 7.0.
The evaluation is carried out by a panel of five specialists who analyze the individual performance of the drivers throughout each Grand Prix, beyond the potential of the car they drive. The scores given by the experts are averaged to establish the score for each event and then accumulated throughout the year.
The recognition for Colapinto came after a weekend that left good feelings within Alpine. The Argentine reached Q3 for the second consecutive race, placed ninth in qualifying, and during the race moved up two places to finish seventh and add six points to the Drivers' Championship, where he currently stands twelfth with 27 points, and for his team in the Constructors' Championship (6th with 68 points).
In its analysis, Formula 1 placed special emphasis on the evolution the driver has been showing throughout the season. "Franco Colapinto is performing much better at Alpine in 2026, and the Argentine is gaining confidence as he gains experience at the elite level," stated the category.
The report also highlighted that "the last two events have been particularly encouraging: two consecutive Q3 spots and points earned in Monza and Madrid". Additionally, it valued his performance during the Spanish race: "After moving from ninth on the grid to seventh at the finish on Sunday, he described it as 'probably my best racing weekend' in this sport".
When does Colapinto race again
After his brilliant performance on Spanish soil, the Argentine will now travel to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Because Sunday, September 27, is observed as Remembrance Day in that country, in memory of those who fell during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the action will be moved up 24 hours, so the competition will start on Thursday, September 24, with the first free practices and will conclude on Saturday, September 26, with the main race.
In his previous appearances at the urban circuit in the capital of the Asian country, the native of Pilar had very different results. In 2024, when he was still part of Williams, he finished eighth, earning his first points as a Formula 1 driver, while in 2025, now with Alpine, he finished in 19th place out of 20, largely marked by the poor performance of his car.
