Argentine driver Franco Colapinto shared his thoughts after the Formula 1 preseason tests at the Bahrain International Circuit. In a press conference, he emphasized the role of adaptation and assessed the competitive landscape for the 2026 season with Alpine.
Franco Colapinto, the 22-year-old driver from Pilar, completed his first Formula 1 preseason as a full-time driver with the Alpine team, after serving as a reserve for Williams in 2024 and Alpine in 2025. During the tests at the Bahrain International Circuit, Colapinto finished among the top 10 in practice sessions despite a spin, and recorded sixth place in the third test. A failure in his Alpine caused the first red flag of the session.
In the post-test press conference, Colapinto highlighted adaptation as key in the early part of the season. "I think adaptation will be one of the keys in this first part of the season. Changing from track to track, everything changes: the way you drive, the deployment, and we'll see that we'll need to learn a lot before the race arrives," he commented.
On performance, the Argentine was cautious. "How the performance is, it's hard to say. I think there are four teams that are quite ahead and then the rest of the teams that we are also very close among ourselves. We'll have to wait and see in the first race where we really are," he concluded.
Colapinto also addressed the regulatory changes. "It feels different, of course, from last year. But I think the progress is very pronounced. And from one day to the next, things change and the car becomes faster and feels better," he added. It was also noted that he undergoes special training to strengthen his neck, adapting to the category's demands.
Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher criticized Colapinto's spin in Bahrain, calling it "embarrassing." Colapinto will also appear in season 8 of Netflix's 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive,' featuring his arrival at Alpine replacing Jack Doohan.
