Franco Colapinto isnt going anywhereAlpine just locked him down with a fresh deal that keeps him racing in Formula 1 until at least 2029. Finally, some clarity for the Argentine driver, whose future had been up in the air like a loose wheel after a messy pit stop. This isnt just a win for Colapinto; Argentinas been starving for a real F1 presence since Carlos Reutemann was tearing it up with Williams back when shoulder pads were cool.
The kids had a wild ride. He burst onto the scene with Williams in 24, then slid into Alpines backup seat the next year. When Jack Doohans grip on his own ride slipped, Colapinto grabbed it mid-2025 at Imola. Early struggles? Yeah, plenty. But once he shook off the jitters, the kid turned it aroundoutpacing Pierre Gasly more often than not, stacking up solid finishes, and proving he wasnt just taking up space.
Court Case Reveals McLaren Boss Zak Brown Allegedly Never Wanted Oscar Piastri
Now comes the real test. 2026 isnt just another season; F1s flipping the script with new rules meant to shake up the pecking order. Alpines ditching Renaults finicky engines for Mercedes bulletproof hardware, and hey, maybe thatll finally fix their glorified breakdown on wheels reputation. With work on the 25 car shelved early, the teams already betting big on this reset.
Colapinto snagged the seat over Paul Aron because he didnt just survive the chaoshe thrived in it. More disciplined, less reckless, and somehow faster when it counted. Alpines been a revolving door of talent and turmoil for years; locking him down is a rare moment of sanity. For Colapinto? Its the break of a lifetime. A shot to grow with a team thats aiming higher, and maybejust maybeput Argentina back on the F1 map.