Overview

• The Argentine arrived in Baku upbeat and said he feels better in the car, yet he conceded the weekend will be difficult given Alpine’s form and the track demands.
• He remains the only full‑time driver without points this season as Alpine sits at the back, with the team having shifted much of its focus toward the 2026 rules reset.
• Reports note Colapinto has exhausted key power‑unit element allocations, so any further changes could trigger grid drops that Alpine must decide whether to take.
• Team principal Flavio Briatore has indicated a late‑October announcement on who partners Pierre Gasly in 2026, keeping Colapinto’s longer‑term status in the spotlight.
• Media‑day scenes showed Colapinto in good spirits with lighthearted activities and a bike track tour, while Argentine viewers can watch on Fox Sports, Disney+ Premium and F1 TV Pro (FP1 Fri 5:30, FP2 9:00; FP3 Sat 5:30; qualifying Sat 9:00; race Sun 8:00, all ARG).