Colapinto Aims for Breakthrough at Canadian Grand Prix
Franco Colapinto is seeking to overcome early setbacks as he prepares for his fourth race with Alpine at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Having replaced Jack Doohan mid-season, Colapinto’s performance has yet to surpass that of his predecessor, with challenges including a qualifying crash at Imola and a lackluster showing in Monaco and Barcelona.
Colapinto completed the Spanish GP qualifying in 19th and finished 15th, indicating the need for significant improvement. Acting team principal Flavio Briatore is assessing the Argentinian’s performance on a race-by-race basis, as he considers candidates for Pierre Gasly’s teammate in 2026.
Reflecting on the past three races, Colapinto stated, “They were tough… I was expecting to make a bit more progress after Imola.” He acknowledged the difficulty of re-adapting to Formula 1 after six races away and highlighted the distinct challenges posed by the Alpine car.
Colapinto remarked on the contrast between his experiences with Williams and Alpine: “It’s very different… At Alpine, I’m learning a lot.” He described feeling "out of phase" with both the car setup and the tools available, complicating his adaptation process. This past week, he spent considerable time at the team’s Enstone factory, collaborating with engineers to address these issues.
“Once we understood that after the race in Barcelona, it made much more sense to me,” he noted, expressing optimism for improved performance in Canada. “I arrive with a bit more confidence. We need that step, so hopefully, we can do it here.”
The team will be keenly watching Colapinto’s progress to gauge his potential for future seasons, particularly with upcoming technical adjustments and insights from his recent work.
