Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Pierre Gasly’s teammate for next season will be decided between Argentine driver Franco Colapinto and Estonian prospect Paul Aron, with the French outfit still weighing up which direction to take.
Colapinto Under Pressure
Colapinto, 22, stepped in earlier this year after Alpine dropped Australian rookie Jack Doohan following the opening six races. However, the Argentine has struggled to make an impression, failing to score a single point in his nine outings for the Renault-owned team.
He does, however, bring some experience: Colapinto made his Formula 1 debut with Williams in 2024, where he scored five points. But with Alpine rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ standings, every race between
now and season’s end will be crucial for his future.
Aron Making His Case
Aron, 21, has been steadily building his reputation within Alpine’s setup. The Estonian took part in free practice at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month and already serves as an official reserve driver. Briatore praised his talent and hinted that the youngster could be a strong option.
“Paul is a very nice guy, a very quick driver as well,” Briatore told The Race during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. “And I need to understand what is best for the team, you know?”
Briatore’s Selection Criteria
Briatore, who was brought back to Alpine last year as executive adviser under former Renault CEO Luca de Meo, stressed that his decision will come down purely to performance and long-term potential.
“My only interest is to try to take in the team the best driver available and do the best job with us. It is as simple as that,” he said. “I need another one or two races to see, but honestly, today I don’t know.”
He also clarified he has no managerial ties to either driver, underlining that the decision will be impartial.
Alpine are enduring a torrid season, sitting last in the 10-team constructors’ standings. Big changes are already on the horizon: from 2026, the team will switch from Renault power units to Mercedes engines as Formula 1 enters its next regulations era.
(with Reuters inputs)
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