Briatore Critiques Colapinto’s Performance Amid Alpine Struggles
Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Franco Colapinto’s performance following the Argentine driver’s promotion to a race seat, highlighting the mounting pressure on the young talent.
After replacing Jack Doohan post-Miami Grand Prix, Colapinto has yet to score a point in seven races with Alpine, a stark contrast to his five-point tally during nine races with Williams last year. Briatore lamented the 22-year-old’s struggles and suggested that more development time might have been necessary before entering Formula 1.
“I think I see everything already,” Briatore stated. “It’s very difficult for these drivers to cope with this car. Maybe it was not the time to have Franco in Formula 1; maybe he needed another year to prepare.”
Despite his commitment and efforts, Colapinto’s results fall short of expectations. Briatore remarked, “I’m not happy… it is not what I expected from Colapinto.”
While addressing future strategies for Alpine’s second seat alongside Pierre Gasly through 2026, Briatore acknowledged potential shortcomings in how the rookie has been managed. He noted that the team may have placed excessive pressure on Colapinto, given his inexperience and the competitive environment.
“Maybe Colapinto had too much pressure to be in Formula 1,” Briatore reflected. “We need to understand exactly what’s going on in the heads of these kids… I think it’s a mistake to underestimate the human part of the driver.”
Briatore concluded by indicating a need for reassessment of their approach to driver management, acknowledging a complex interplay between performance expectations and psychological support for young drivers.
