Franco Colapinto’s F1 season took another hit following a P15 finish at the 2025 Spanish GP, casting further doubt over his future with Alpine. Despite early promise, the Argentine has yet to deliver on key expectations set by team boss Flavio Briatore. Colapinto’s tough race in Barcelona marked another missed opportunity to impress, particularly amid growing speculation regarding a performance-based deadline.
Three-point checklist: Briatore’s conditions for Colapinto
Colapinto is reportedly under a five-race evaluation period, during which he must prove himself superior to Alpine reserve Jack Doohan. According to executive advisor and de-facto Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore, there are three essential parameters the 22-year-old must meet: be fast, avoid crashing, and score points. Thus far, Colapinto has failed to tick any of those boxes.
Colapinto began his 2025 F1 season with a crash during Qualifying and a P16 finish at the Imola GP. He then finished P13 in Monaco, where he was lapped twice—despite Alpine pinning their hopes on him after Pierre Gasly retired from the race. The Spanish GP brought no relief. He dropped further down the order, taking the chequered flag in 15th place.
The growing pressure prompted a direct question in the print media pen following the race, asking if Colapinto now required a “miracle” to salvage his seat. However, the Argentine deflected the suggestion, instead focusing on his learning curve.
“No, I don’t think it’s the person you should be asking that, I think,” Colapinto responded. “We are growing, you know, with the team and doing step by step. But today was a tough race, I think a tough afternoon, a difficult race. So yeah, I need to focus on Canada.”
Colapinto gains mileage but still lacks confidence
Although Colapinto struggled for pace in Barcelona, he managed to complete the full race distance—an achievement he valued from a development standpoint. He acknowledged that the mileage helped him gain a better understanding of the Alpine car, although he admitted feeling unsettled in specific corners due to its inconsistent handling characteristics.
This lack of confidence is proving costly. Not only is Colapinto under the microscope from Briatore and the Alpine senior leadership, but he also faces mounting comparisons to other rookies and reserve drivers waiting in the wings. The F1 grid offers little margin for gradual development, especially when the pressure for points is constant.
Briatore Speaks Candidly on Colapinto’s Future
Flavio Briatore, never one to sugar-coat his opinions, has been forthright about his disappointment in Colapinto’s results so far. While he acknowledged the psychological toll the sport can take on young drivers, the Alpine boss insisted that such pressure comes with the territory.
“If I were to say now that I was happy, it would be a lie. I’m not happy at all. Now we have to see how the season develops for him,” Briatore said, speaking to Sky Deutschland.
“Franco is strong enough. In this job, you need to be able to regain your confidence as quickly as possible. So I hope he gets it done quickly and gets on track,” he added.
Briatore also dismissed the rumoured five-race deadline, clarifying that no specific number of races has been guaranteed to the Argentine. The decision to retain or replace Colapinto will depend entirely on performance metrics, rather than arbitrary timelines.
“I don’t know at this moment if Franco will stay for the season or not, but let’s see. Depends on the performance. We’re only looking at the performance — nothing else,” Briatore concluded.
Canada looms as a defining weekend
As the calendar shifts to the Canadian GP, Colapinto finds himself at a critical juncture. With Alpine publicly outlining the standards required, and Briatore making no excuses for poor results, the Argentine must deliver soon or risk losing his seat.
The pressure is now squarely on Colapinto to convert experience into results. While he has managed to avoid further crashes since Imola, the clock continues to tick. Alpine, a team in need of consistency and points, cannot afford to gamble indefinitely. The next few races—whether officially part of a deadline or not—will likely determine whether Franco Colapinto remains in Formula 1 for the long haul.
