Argentine driver Franco Colapinto finished 15th in the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, grappling with issues in his Alpine at Interlagos. Despite a tough weekend that included a chassis change and a brush with Lewis Hamilton, the team confirmed his seat for 2026. Colapinto voiced frustration over the car's pace and strategy but inspired fans with an upbeat social media post.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine driver, endured a demanding weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix at São Paulo's José Carlos Pace Autodrome in Interlagos. The 22-year-old Argentine failed to advance past Q1 due to a lack of pace with a new chassis fitted after a sprint crash on Saturday, forcing him to start 16th.
In Sunday's race, he gained one position at the start from penalties to others but suffered a touch from Lewis Hamilton on the first lap, though he continued without major damage. Over the 71 laps, Colapinto struggled with tire degradation and limited grip, trailing Fernando Alonso for much of the race. He showed a flash of speed on new soft tires, setting a provisional fastest lap, but the car lost performance again. He finished 15th, while teammate Pierre Gasly ended 10th and scored a crucial point for Alpine, which has just 22 points in the Constructors' Championship and sits last.
Post-race, Colapinto voiced dissatisfaction: “Creo que hicimos una estrategia muy parecida a todos los demás y eso hizo un poco que no tengamos oportunidad. Estuve atrás de Fernando (Alonso) toda la carrera y era muy difícil de pasar” (We ran a strategy very similar to everyone else and that made it so we had no opportunity. I was behind Fernando (Alonso) the whole race and it was very hard to pass). He added: “El ritmo no era malo, pero tampoco sentí que tenías buen balance” (The pace wasn't bad, but I didn't feel good balance either) and called the race “un poco aburrida” (a bit boring). There was also an incident where he insulted another driver over the radio, in a new clash similar to Mexico.
Despite the challenges, the team confirmed Colapinto's extension as a full-time driver for 2026. He celebrated with a social media post: “Vamos por todo” (Let's go for everything), thanking fans for their support in São Paulo. Minutes after the race, he cheered Boca Juniors' victory over River in the Superclásico. With three races left—Las Vegas on November 23, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—Alpine focuses on improvements ahead. Colapinto summed up: “Fue una carrera difícil, pero estoy feliz por la noticia de mi renovación. Tenemos mucho trabajo por delante” (It was a tough race, but I'm happy about the renewal news. We have a lot of work ahead).
