The figure of Franco Colapinto continues to gain support within Formula 1. After the official announcement from Alpine, which confirmed his continuity for next season, it was Steve Nielsen, the team's sporting director, who explained the reasons behind the decision.
In statements to the specialized outlet Motorsport, the British executive did not hold back in his praise for the Argentine driver and made it clear that his continuity was earned on merit. "Above all, he is a very pleasant person to have around. He is kind, open, honest. He admits his mistakes. I think that's really important for any new driver: being open and working with the team. Franco is that way," Nielsen said in an interview with Motorsport.com during the Brazilian Grand Prix.
For the executive, Colapinto's attitude and self-criticism were key traits in his growth within the team. His ability to learn quickly and his commitment every race weekend ultimately convinced Alpine that they should bet on him for the long term. "He had a difficult start with us. I think he didn't show his true level right away. He had a few complicated races. But little by little he reached a performance level similar to Pierre's(Gasly), who is a known reference for us. That gave us the confidence to keep him."
Nielsen reconoció que Colapinto estuvo varias veces en un nivel similar a Gasly
Nielsen also valued the experience the Argentine has accumulated in a short time within the category. For Alpine, that adaptation process represents an advantage ahead of the challenges that the new 2026 technical regulations will bring. "There were other drivers we could have chosen, but now Franco has more than one season. He has already contested about twenty-something races, which is important. Any new driver who arrives makes quite similar mistakes at the beginning, and Franco has already gone through many of those. So now he can really focus on performance, on working with the team, and on getting the best out of himself."
Nielsen's words come in a particular context for Alpine, which decided to focus its efforts on developing the 2026 car and to sacrifice performance during this year. Amid those difficulties, Colapinto managed to maintain a competitive level and demonstrate that he can be a key piece in the team's future. "I think Franco is a very interesting option for us looking ahead. I hope we can give him a much better car next year to really see what he's capable of."
Nielsen quiere ver todo el potencial de Colapinto para la temporada 2026
With the explicit support of one of the team's most influential figures, Franco Colapinto is consolidating himself not only as a promise of Argentine motorsport, but as a reliable and valued driver within Alpine's structure, which is betting on building its return to the elite with the talent of the young man from Pilar as one of its pillars.
