After the Argentine driver's continuity with Alpine for 2026 was confirmed, the Brazilian driver once again praised him and celebrated the South American presence in F1
Bortoleto went even further when talking about the relationship between both drivers and the possible future of their rivalry: "Today we're not fighting for a world title. The day we're fighting for the championship, then a 'war' like Pelé-Maradona could appear. But always with respect," he said.
Franco Colapinto is experiencing one of his most solid moments since he arrived at Alpine. The confirmation of his continuity as a main driver for 2026 not only reinforced his position within the team, but also caused positive reactions in the paddock. One of the most notable came from Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber's representative and a longtime acquaintance of the Argentine, who stated that the Pilar native's performance has started to make Pierre Gasly uncomfortable.
During the Brazilian Grand Prix, Bortoleto analyzed the Argentine driver's progress and did not hold back on praise. "I think Franco's been doing a great job. He deserves his contract renewal," he said in an interview with Motorsport. He added a statement that made an impact within Alpine: "From my point of view, he's put Gasly under pressure in many races. He's a very talented driver. I'm happy to represent South America with him."
The Brazilian's words come at a particular moment. Since Colapinto took Jack Doohan's place in Imola in May, he's had to go through an accelerated learning curve to adapt to the Alpine A525. The difference in experience with Gasly (174 Grands Prix compared to just 23 for the Argentine) marked the beginning. However, after the European break, the Pilar native's performance steadily improved and positioned him as an increasingly competitive rival.
He also recalled the bond they've had since they were children: "I've known Franco since we were kids. We raced together in karting and there was always a lot of respect. I'm very happy that he's in Formula 1 and that we can compete in the same category. I prefer to have him here, competing with me, rather than facing someone I don't know."
Previously, Colapinto also referred to the regional unity within motorsport: "Brazil is like a second home to me. I know that in football there's a lot of competition between Argentina and Brazil, but I think in motorsport it's different," he said with a smile.
With Alpine already looking ahead to 2026 and with Colapinto establishing himself as one of the surprises of the year, South American presence in Formula 1 is regaining a prominence it hasn't had for some time.
