Flavio Briatore has reflected on Franco Colapinto's impressive improvement since joining Alpine, hinting at the team's interest in securing the Argentine driver through the 2027 season.

Colapinto made his debut as a full-time driver for the Enstone outfit at last year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, initially replacing the demoted Jack Doohan for five rounds before Alpine decided he would retain his seat on a race-by-race basis. After ending the season with zero points, the 23-year-old has improved dramatically.

Speaking in the latest episode of Beyond The Grid, Briatore expressed his satisfaction with Colapinto's development: "Franco is integrating much better in the team. He's improving a lot – mentally, technically, relationship with the team. We're working very hard with him. He's moving to Monaco. I see him a lot in Monaco. We're talking a lot with him."

The Executive Advisor acknowledged the challenges Colapinto faced when entering Formula 1: "This young driver arrived in Formula 1 with a lot of pressure and to settle mentally is not easy. We need to help him. We've done a lot of work with Franco and now, little by little, the confidence has arrived."

Briatore continued with high praise for his driver's potential: "I don't know our level of talent we will arrive at with him. But sure enough, a talent. This is 100 per cent."

Colapinto's Remarkable Progress

Colapinto has achieved his best career result of P6 at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix and has out-qualified team mate Pierre Gasly on multiple occasions. His contributions have been crucial to Alpine's current position as the 'best of the rest' in the championship.

After seven rounds, Alpine tops the midfield with 57 points, with Colapinto contributing 16 of those points through top-10 finishes in China, Miami, Canada, and Barcelona-Catalunya.

Looking Toward 2027

With the summer break approaching and driver market shifts picking up, Briatore has begun considering what he wants his line-up to look like for the 2027 season.

He stated: "If Franco is performing like he's performing now and the relationship between Franco and Pierre is like now, it's the same we have with Fernando Alonso at the time, with Giancarlo Fisichella, with Jarno Trulli, super relationship. Why not?"

"I know Franco very well now. We know Pierre very well. We are in the moment to technically build up the team, consistency. Maybe. We have plenty of races to go just to the end of August and before the summer break, we decide."