Briatore: Spanish GP marks ‘first real race’ for Colapinto

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has made it clear that the team’s 2025 driver line-up remains a moving target, with rookie Franco Colapinto’s tenure hanging in the balance.

The Argentine driver, who stepped into the cockpit at Imola as Jack Doohan’s replacement, still faces an uncertain future as Briatore emphasized performance as the sole criterion for securing a seat long-term.

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Briatore made it clear that Colapinto’s initial five-race audition is not set in stone, with the team’s 2026 preparations driving a strategy of experimentation.

The Italian is therefore leaving the door open for changes while dismissing speculation about other drivers, including Alpine’s World Endurance Championship star Mick Schumacher.

With the team’s focus firmly on results, Colapinto’s performance in Barcelona and beyond will determine his fate.

Colapinto’s Trial by Performance

“We need to wait one second [before] judging Franco,” Briatore explained in Frday’s FIA press conference. “We’ll see this race, we need the full race.

“We did Monte Carlo. It was a very special race for everybody, we made a lot of mistakes in qualifying. And in Monte Carlo, qualifying is the race. Especially this race, Monte Carlo, it was very boring and very annoying.

“Let’s see, this is the first real race of Franco.”

Briatore’s dismissal of Monaco as a true test underscores his focus on giving Colapinto a fair chance to showcase his talent on a more representative circuit like Barcelona’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

However, the executive advisor’s comments also carry a clear message: Colapinto’s future hinges on his ability to deliver.

With Alpine’s sights set on building a competitive lineup for 2026, Briatore is unwilling to commit to a fixed timeline, prioritizing results over sentiment.

“I don’t know, honestly, I never tell: five races, three races, four races, one race. We’ll see," he added.

"If Colapinto is performing, he’s driving the car. If not, we’ll see: 2025 is a year [when] we need to prepare ourselves for 2026. So whatever experiment I need doing, we’re doing.”

A Fluid Situation

Alpine’s fluid strategy extends beyond Colapinto, with the French outfit retaining Doohan as a reserve driver alongside Paul Aron and Kush Maini, keeping multiple options on the table.

Speculation has also swirled around Mick Schumacher, who races for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship and carries the legacy of his father, Michael, whom Briatore signed to Benetton in 1991.

Yet, when pressed about Schumacher’s potential return to F1, Briatore was characteristically blunt, shutting down the discussion.

“I don’t think it’s the question to ask here, now,” he said. “Next question.”

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