La Derecha Diario The link between Verstappen and Alpine that could impact Colapinto's future
Once again, Ralf Schumacher dropped a bomb and stated that the Dutchman could move away from Red Bull and that Alpine emerges as a possible destination
Beyond the poor result in Bahrain, Max Verstappen remains the best driver today. Despite not having the most competitive car, he managed to prevail and stay at the top of the standings, in a fierce battle with McLaren for the 2025 championship.
However, that situation of "not having the best car" is something that Verstappen wouldn't be willing to tolerate for much longer. If Red Bull fails to develop a dominant car for 2026, within the framework of the new technical regulations, the three-time champion could terminate his contract, which binds him to the Austrian team until 2028. His goal, as always, is to remain in the fight for the world title.
In that hypothetical scenario, a possibility could arise that might alter Franco Colapinto's plans: Alpine emerges as one of the main interested parties in bringing Verstappen on board if he decides to change teams. "Alpine is a team we always forget, but it will play a role in all this," said Ralf Schumacher, former Formula 1 driver, brother of Michael, and current analyst for Sky Sports Germany.
"Flavio Briatore has secured Mercedes engines for the team for next year, and if you look at what Gasly did this past weekend, the car won't be bad," explained Schumacher. "Add the 30HP from the Mercedes engine. We can't rule them out. I think it's one of the four teams that could be interesting for Verstappen," he concluded.
The possible arrival of Verstappen and the challenge for Colapinto
Colapinto's future will be closely tied to how the next few months unfold in Formula 1. For now, Pierre Gasly is the only driver with a secured spot at Alpine. The Frenchman, with more experience and results, remains a key figure for the team.
Everything will depend on whether Franco gets his chance with the team and if he can perform at the level, or above, of Gasly, who will be his main benchmark in terms of performance. If Verstappen's arrival materializes, the Argentine will need to show outstanding performance if he wants to be considered as the Dutchman's teammate, clearly outperforming Gasly on the track.
Nonetheless, as of today, Colapinto doesn't even occupy that seat at Alpine. The spot still belongs to Jack Doohan, at least until mid-season. Meanwhile, the Argentine will continue gaining experience in the simulator, waiting for his moment, which, as promised by Flavio Briatore, will come sooner or later.
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