It’s imminent: Flavio Briatore has already decided what Franco Colapinto’s future at Alpine will be like

Key hours are being experienced in the Alpine team to define the future of Franco Colapinto, who could secure a place in the French team for the 2026 season of Formula 1. The official announcement is expected at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which will take place on Sunday, November 9 at the Interlagos circuit, one of the last four dates on the calendar.

According to the Italian portal AutoRacer, the team principal, Flavio Briatore, would have already made the decision to keep the Argentine driver within the sports project. Colapinto's continuity is part of the team's new technical strategy, which is preparing for one of the biggest regulatory changes in recent years and the adoption of Mercedes engines in its single-seaters.

"Flavio Briatore has finally made his decision. Franco Colapinto has been confirmed and will remain at Alpine in 2026. The announcement will be made around the Brazilian Grand Prix. The team has always supported the Argentine driver, despite the initial difficulties, and his progress on track convinced the engineers," AutoRacer stated in a note signed by Paolo D’Alessandro and Piergiuseppe Donadoni.

Meanwhile, the Dutch outlet Racing News 365 also supported this information, stating that the 22-year-old driver will continue as Pierre Gasly's teammate, although the exact duration of his new contract has not yet been disclosed. Colapinto is currently on loan from Williams, a team with which he keeps a contractual relationship.

Colapinto's recent performance was one of the key factors in the decision. In several races, the level of the native of Pilar was higher than that of his teammate and ultimately convinced Briatore and the technical staff. According to AutoRacer, the internal evaluation confirmed his sustained progress throughout the season. His performance in the Mexican Grand Prix, where he competed against Paul Aron, one of the candidates to take his place, reinforced the team's confidence.

Given this scenario, everything indicates that the driver from Pilar will continue in the top category during 2026, consolidating his presence in the most demanding category of world motorsport and becoming one of the strongest bets for Alpine's future.