Franco Colapinto will remain an Alpine Formula 1 driver for the 2027 season, securing his place on the grid alongside Pierre Gasly according to an official team announcement covered by GPfans.
Alpine Confirms 2027 Lineup With Gasly and Colapinto
Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore announced the contract extension ahead of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, prioritizing continuity as the team works to develop a competitive car. Pierre Gasly already held a secure contract running through 2028 after signing a multi-year deal in 2025.
The decision follows persistent paddock rumors linking Fernando Alonso to a potential return to Alpine amid his frustrating start to the season with Aston Martin, according to reporting by GPfans. Instead of pursuing external veterans, Briatore opted to retain the team’s existing roster.
“For me, having consistency is very important,” Briatore said in a team statement published by GPfans. “We are now settled from a driver point of view and I have said many times that, while this is an important piece of the puzzle, the most significant we have to get right is designing and building a fast race car which absolutely remains our number one priority.”
Colapinto’s Path to a Permanent Alpine Race Seat
Colapinto initially entered the Alpine setup as a test and reserve driver following a brief stint at Williams. He earned a promotion to the race seat partway through the 2025 season after Alpine replaced Jack Doohan following just six grands prix.
Despite initially stepping into the car on a short five-race agreement, the 23-year-old Argentine driver retained his position for the remainder of 2025. He subsequently earned an extension into the 2026 campaign, where he sits 12th in the drivers’ standings with 19 points.
Briatore highlighted Colapinto’s development on track as a key driver for the retention. “We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year,” Briatore told GPfans. “His results in Miami and Montréal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula 1 and he belongs at this team.”
Driver’s Perspective on Long-Term Goals
Reflecting on his confirmed future with the team, Colapinto expressed satisfaction with his trajectory inside the organization.
“I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027,” Colapinto said in the Alpine statement reported by GPfans. “I feel very happy and very settled here and it’s been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last.”
Colapinto pointed to the team’s broader ambitions as motivation for his continued tenure. “Our long-term goals are obvious – to compete and win – and I am grateful to the team, Flavio and Steve, for the trust placed in me to be one of its drivers going into the future,” he added.
The 2027 Formula 1 Grid Landscape
With Alpine locking down both Gasly and Colapinto, the 2027 grid continues to take shape while several seats remain up for grabs. Confirmed lineups include Alex Albon at Williams, alongside Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi. Seven remaining seats across the grid are currently listed as TBC pending further contract announcements from other constructors.
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