Problems for Colapinto: Alpine suffers a delicate exit amid the team's crisis
The chief mechanic is leaving Alpine
porEditorial Team
Argentina
After the Belgian GP, chief mechanic Francis Stokes decided to step aside after more than three years with the French team
Alpine can't get out of the rut in the 2025 Formula 1 season. While the team occupies the last place in the Constructors' Championship with just 20 points in 13 rounds, the team suffered another major blow. This time, it is the departure of its chief mechanic, Francis Stokes, a key figure in the technical operation of the team.
The news was announced by Stokes himself through his social media. "After three unbelievable years with Alpine,it's time to say goodbye. I'll always treasure the memories we've created together, from the podium in Monaco to the celebrations in Brazil and the Netherlands," he wrote on Instagram. The message was accompanied by several photos with the team, including some with Franco Colapinto, with whom he forged a close relationship.
Among the shared snapshots, one drew particular attention: Stokes and Franco Colapinto enjoying pastries and local beer, while "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" played in the background. In the caption, Francis joked: "If they teamed up with Quilmes, they'd be the best in the world."
Una de las fotos compartidas por Stokes
The departure of the chief mechanic adds to the uncertainty surrounding the Enstone-based team. Although the reasons for his decision were not specified, rumors have begun to circulate linking him to a possible move to Cadillac, the team set to debut in 2026.
Meanwhile, Alpine's current situation is concerning. Pierre Gasly managed to score just one point in the last Belgian Grand Prix with his 10th-place finish, while Colapinto finished 19th, affected by pace issues and a failed two-stop strategy. At the same time, a major change is approaching, since starting in 2026, they'll stop using Renault engines to switch to Mercedes technology, which will require a significant technical restructuring.
In the short term, Flavio Briatore, the team's principal advisor and Colapinto's mentor, will be responsible for reorganizing the mechanical department and choosing Stokes's successor. This is a key task amid a chaotic context, where Alpine not only needs results but also must urgently rebuild to face the new technical regulations that will take effect in 2026.
