Franco Colapinto is not really getting up to speed at Alpine – The Argentine explains what is different at the French team compared to Williams, where he impressed
Franco Colapinto explains why he has been unable to build on last year’s performances at Williams in his first full Formula 1 season with Alpine. The 22-year-old Argentine jumped into the Alpine cockpit for Jack Doohan at the Imola Grand Prix, but seven races later, Colapinto is still waiting for his first World Championship point. His teammate Pierre Gasly has collected 13 points during the same period.
Colapinto stepped in for the disappointing Logan Sargeant at Williams for the last nine races last year. He scored points twice in his first four Grands Prix, making a positive impression.
Things are very different now at Alpine. “I lack confidence in the car,” said Colapinto ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “Sometimes I just can’t find my rhythm through some corners. I can’t turn in the way I’d like to. That makes me lack confidence.”
“I didn’t have this problem last year – I could just get in and was fast straight away. But now I’m struggling more. That’s the reality. I don’t have the confidence I had back then – and in Formula 1, that simply takes time.”
Colapinto sees his ability to get the most out of an entire race weekend as the area with the greatest potential for improvement. Even though this has not been reflected in the results so far, he sees progress internally.
“We are working intensively with the team to understand certain things, and I am convinced that we have already improved in some areas,” says Colapinto, who was still a reserve driver for Alpine at the start of the season.
Not your usual media day activity
Trying out fencing with the Hungarian Olympic Gold medalist team pic.twitter.com/a8Mi0uavI1
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) July 31, 2025
“It’s just that it feels like nothing is coming together properly. The package we have has worked well on some weekends, but not at all on others.”
“I feel that a lot has improved behind the scenes. But when you don’t see that in the results, it becomes difficult to keep the faith and continue working in the same direction.”
“You can’t rely on a feeling when the results aren’t there. But I still believe that we are making progress and working well together as a team. It’s just taking longer than I’d like.”
Summer break canceled
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 is taking its usual summer break, which will end in Zandvoort at the end of August. Many drivers use this time for vacation and relaxation – but not Colapinto.
“My season has been shorter anyway,” he says. “I have to keep working. If you’re not satisfied with your performance, you can’t let up, you have to keep at it.”
“Of course, you need a reset every now and then. But you also have to use the free time to keep learning and understand where you need to improve.”
“So I’ll keep pushing on my side and try to come back stronger after the summer break than I went into it.”
