Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen insists that Franco Colapinto’s contract extension into 2026 was earned purely on merit – not money – but few in the F1 paddock are entirely convinced.
The Argentinian’s growing popularity and sponsorship backing make him a valuable commercial asset, and while Nielsen praised his “gradual” rise alongside Pierre Gasly, some observers suspect the balance sheet played just as big a role as lap times.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Brazil, Nielsen defended Alpine’s decision to retain the young driver, emphasizing that Colapinto’s performance trajectory justified the move.
A Rookie’s Rise or a Financial Fix?
“Yeah, I mean it's very difficult for any of the new drivers coming in, we've seen some come in and hit the ground running straight away and we've seen others come in and struggle a little bit,” Nielsen explained.
“Franco obviously did some races with Williams last year, substituted for Jack from Imola and struggled a bit to start with to be honest, and then gradually, gradually...
“We're lucky to have Pierre as a kind of a marker, an established driver and gradually Franco was able to up his game and take the fight to Pierre and in a car that's not as competitive as we would like to.”
The comparison to Gasly, a proven talent, is Alpine’s cornerstone argument. Nielsen claims Colapinto not only closed the gap but occasionally outpaced his teammate.
“When you compare them to each other, he started doing a reasonable job and became comparable to Pierre, even quicker than Pierre on a few occasions and so ultimately that's what got him the seat,” said the Alpine chief.
Nielsen’s praise paints a picture of steady progress – but given Alpine’s middling form and Colapinto’s uneven results, the claim has raised eyebrows among pundits.
Happy Accident or Calculated Choice?
The Alpine boss also insisted the team had weighed up multiple options before extending Colapinto’s deal.
“To be honest, we had everybody on the table and a lot more drivers that have since gone elsewhere and gradually we iterated towards choosing Franco,” Nielsen said.
“We're happy with that, but anybody that was a possibility at some stage or another, we considered them.”
Alpine team managing director Steve Nielsen.
But when Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle floated the idea that financial considerations may have influenced the decision, Nielsen’s response left room for interpretation.
“You can't ignore the financials, of course, it plays a part in it, but ultimately we've got Franco on talent, and the fact that he brings the financial side is a happy accident.”
An “accident” that happens to bring millions in sponsorship and a growing Latin American fan base – hardly one Alpine would want to avoid.
For now, Nielsen’s line is clear: Colapinto stays because he’s earned it. But in a sport where money and merit often blur, few believe talent was the only deciding factor.
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