Colapinto avoids answering contract inquiries amid Alpine tensions.
"I believe we've handled the team's decisions effectively."
Franco Colapinto has dismissed speculation regarding his future, yet his indirect responses in Mexico did little to quell rumors that he has already secured a seat with Alpine for 2026. The Argentine rookie has been at the center of reports in recent days suggesting that Jack Doohan was close to being called back to take his place mid-season. Many within the paddock think this talk was encouraged by Flavio Briatore as a tactic to apply pressure on Colapinto’s sponsors, whose bright yellow branding is now prominently featured on the Alpine.
Colapinto’s bold disregard for team orders in Austin only further fueled the belief that his position for the future is secure. Alpine even removed a social media post that quoted team boss Steve Nielsen’s criticism of the incident, hinting at the quiet management of tensions behind the scenes. When directly asked in Mexico if having a confirmed contract for 2026 might have affected his choice to defy the order, Colapinto skillfully avoided the question: "Certainly, not having a contract - I mean, I can’t compare it because I’ve never had a contract at this stage in the season.
"But I can't say how I would have felt or reacted if I already had a contract for three or four years, or at least for next season." The 22-year-old acknowledged that his debut season has been inconsistent, but he insisted that the car is the main issue. "We knew 2025 would be a transition year, but it has turned out to be more complicated than we anticipated," he remarked. "The truth is, we are very close to each other at all times. In the last six races, I’ve had competitive pace and been quite strong, but sometimes we’re unable to demonstrate our true individual speed because, ultimately, we’re a bit off."
Regarding his relationship with the team following the Austin incident, Colapinto affirmed that the issue is resolved. "I think we’ve managed the team’s decisions very well up to this point," he stated. "It was different from our past experiences and presented a complicated situation. We understood everything well before the race, and all is well."
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