Alpine’s Struggling Season: Franco Colapinto Faces Challenges
In a season characterized by underperformance, Franco Colapinto remains determined to improve his results with Alpine despite ongoing difficulties with the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car. Since replacing Jack Doohan after the Miami Grand Prix, Colapinto has failed to score points, marking seven races without a top-13 finish and a best qualifying position of 12th in Canada.
Both drivers are grappling with the challenges posed by the unpredictable A525, which has shown a narrow performance window. Colapinto’s struggle is compounded by his inexperience, while teammate Pierre Gasly acknowledges the car’s tricky handling, particularly during races with increased tire degradation. Gasly cited the car’s instability, stating, “Overall, we slide a lot… it’s not something which is competitive over a full race distance.”
Despite Gasly’s occasional successes, including a surprising sixth-place finish at Silverstone, the team’s overall performance has held them back in the Constructors’ Championship, currently placing them 10th with 19 points. The midfield battle is tightening, with rivals Williams leading with 59 points, underscoring Alpine’s need for significant improvements.
Colapinto recognizes that understanding the car’s performance is crucial for his success. "We need to try to make the car a bit more predictable," he asserted. Though he reported some progress, he admitted, “It comes with experience… I think that’s purely from not knowing the car.”
Speculation regarding Colapinto’s future at Alpine remains unfounded, as his position is determined on a race-by-race basis. With substantial support from his home country of Argentina, factors such as the 2025 car’s limitations and the team’s strategic focus on the upcoming 2026 season provide Colapinto with a degree of latitude.
Alpine’s technical director David Sanchez clarified the team’s strategy, insisting that substantial future development is on the horizon for 2026. He noted, “We may not have been pushing so deep in this season… but we are quite happy with our choice.”
With contrasting assessments of potential performance in the remaining races of the 2025 season, Gasly ominously mentioned the distinct challenges faced this year compared to last. As Alpine seeks to enhance the A525’s competitiveness, Colapinto’s learning curve and adaptability will be pivotal moving forward.
