Alpine F1’s Steve Nielsen Reveals Franco Colapinto Signed for Talent, Not Money

LISTEN

0:00 0:00

Highlights

Alpine extends Franco Colapinto’s contract for 2026 F1 season
Colapinto replaced Jack Doohan mid-2025 season as full-time driver
Talent, not finances, was key in Alpine’s contract decision
Colapinto matched or outperformed teammate Pierre Gasly’s pace
Alpine evaluated multiple driver options before renewing Colapinto’s contract
Extension signals Alpine’s commitment to developing talent on merit

Alpine extends Franco Colapinto for 2026, announced before Brazil’s first practice, with managing director Steve Nielsen stressing talent, not funding, as the decisive factor.

Colapinto stays alongside Pierre Gasly. He began 2025 as reserve and earned the seat after six rounds, replacing Jack Doohan.

Talent, not finances, drove Alpine’s 2026 decision, says Steve Nielsen.

Nielsen frames the judgment around adaptation curves. Newcomers vary in how quickly they reach baseline performance, so Alpine prioritised trendlines over isolated weekends.

Steve Nielsen says talent drove Alpine's 2026 Colapinto extension — Image Credit: Motorsport

Colapinto’s early outings were patchy, including struggles during his Williams stint last season and the opening phase with Alpine.

Over subsequent events he aligned with Gasly’s pace, despite an Alpine package short of front-running competitiveness.

Internal benchmarking showed parity and, at times, an edge over Gasly. That evidence base ultimately swung the decision.

Financial backing was a “happy accident,” not a determinant, according to Nielsen.

Alpine canvassed the driver market for 2026, considering options beyond its roster. Each candidate underwent the same comparative analysis before the renewal.

External commentary, notably from Martin Brundle, raised sponsorship influence. Nielsen acknowledged finance matters in Formula 1, but maintained performance governed Alpine’s choice.

The stance underscores a merit-led retention policy, aiming to deepen driver capability rather than chase short-term commercial benefits.

Franco Colapinto continues with Alpine for 2026 alongside Pierre Gasly — Image Credit: Formula 1

Continuity also aids Alpine ahead of 2026 regulations, when new power units and aero concepts reset competitive baselines across the grid.

Extended mileage should mature Colapinto’s racecraft, tyre management, and feedback loops with engineers, strengthening execution on Sundays.

Colapinto’s improved pace relative to Gasly became the primary evidence supporting his extension.

With Colapinto confirmed alongside Gasly, Alpine sets a clearer trajectory for 2026, targeting incremental gains and consistent scoring potential.

Visual Summary

💸
Money

🏆
Talent

🇦🇷

FRANCO COLAPINTO

🏁
Experience

“Colapinto’s Talent Clinches Alpine’s F1 Seat for 2026 — Not Just Sponsorship.”

Outpaced Gasly at times
Earned future on merit alone.

Alpine’s Vision:
Building a driver lineup on skill, not chequebooks.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.