Overview

• New York Times reporting says Franco Colapinto is the leading in-house option for Alpine’s 2026 seat, contingent on avoiding costly incidents, staying close to Pierre Gasly on pace and showing steady gains, with Flavio Briatore targeting an October–November confirmation.
• Team guidance reported across outlets frames the decision as internal between Colapinto and Paul Aron, with Jack Doohan not in contention for the 2026 race seat.
• Colapinto reaches 21 Formula 1 starts at the Singapore Grand Prix, matching compatriots Gastón Mazzacane and Oscar Larrauri, as he tackles Marina Bay’s heat, humidity and limited overtaking.
• Alpine is treating 2025 as a transition year and has shifted focus to 2026 with a technical overhaul that includes switching to Mercedes power units and a broader organizational restructuring.
• In parallel driver-market moves, multiple reports say Cadillac is assembling a Sergio Pérez–Valtteri Bottas lineup and is evaluating Jak Crawford as reserve, while McLaren’s lawsuit against Alex Palou opened with a London hearing and disputed damage claims in the $20–33 million range.