Flavio Briatore is seeing red, and it’s not just the Alpine color scheme. His discontent is aimed squarely at Franco Colapinto, the Argentine rookie who has yet to impress in his F1 debut season. Assigned to Alpine after Jack Doohan’s departure, Colapinto was given what seemed like a straightforward task: be fast, avoid crashes, and score points. Yet, he has struck out on all fronts, leaving Briatore less than thrilled.
Colapinto’s tenure started with a hope-filled promise, but quickly turned shaky when he crashed during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix qualifying, violating the cardinal rule of staying on track. Since then, he has struggled not only with speed but also with scoring any points, making Briatore’s list of expectations seem more like a distant mirage.
Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Briatore labeled the race as a genuine test for Colapinto. However, the results were disappointing; while teammate Pierre Gasly secured an eighth-place finish, Colapinto was ousted in the Q1 round, ultimately finishing third last in the race. Briatore openly admitted his dissatisfaction, stating, ‘If I were to say now that I was happy, it would be a lie. I’m not happy at all.’
Colapinto, despite being under immense pressure not just from Briatore but also from Argentine fans, is urged to regain his confidence quickly. Briatore, keeping the future in mind, mentioned, ‘2025 is a year we need to prepare ourselves for 2026.’ This indicates that Colapinto’s place in the team remains uncertain, hinging entirely on his upcoming performances. Nico Rosberg, 2016 World Champion, added insight into the pressures of working under Briatore, noting that being on the wrong side of the Italian can be mentally taxing.
Briatore refrained from committing to how many more races Colapinto might participate in, emphasizing that only performance would determine the rookie’s future. With Briatore’s firm stance on focusing solely on results, the message is clear: Colapinto needs to step up, and soon, or risk being sidelined like others before him.
Franco Colapinto’s journey in the F1 circuit is off to a rocky start, shadowed by unmet expectations and mounting pressure from both his team and home country. While his future with Alpine hangs in the balance, his challenge lies in reversing a troubled beginning into a promising tenure. As the season unfolds, only his performance can rewrite the narrative, proving his mettle in the competitive world of Formula 1.
