Alpine to pick Gasly's 2026 teammate by November, Briatore says

Alpine will decide by November who will join Pierre Gasly in its 2026 Formula 1 driver lineup, executive adviser Flavio Briatore said, handing Franco Colapinto a late-season audition as the Enstone team weighs stability against a need for immediate performance. Gasly signed a contract extension at the Italian Grand Prix that runs through 2028, but the identity of his future teammate remains unresolved as Alpine closes its season and prepares for major regulation changes in 2026.

Briatore told Sky Sports F1 that no final decision has been taken and that the team wants to see more from Colapinto over the remaining races. "For the moment, I believe Franco is doing a good job. He was a bit inexperienced in the beginning, like a lot of the rookies. Now, in the last three, four races, he is much more consistent, no mistakes. Maybe it is Franco, maybe we see. We have another four or five races to choose and that is when we will see," Briatore said. When asked about timing he added, "It is November. We need to make a decision."

Colapinto, 22, was brought into Alpine midseason after Jack Doohan was dropped and has struggled to deliver points since his arrival, leaving Gasly as the team's...