Overview

• An analysis on F1’s official site by Lawrence Barretto says Franco Colapinto is in good shape to remain at Alpine next year, highlighting a 3–1 qualifying edge over Pierre Gasly across the last four rounds with an average Q1 advantage of about 0.122s.
• Alpine has not confirmed its 2026 lineup and team voices caution that a decision is still some way off, with several outlets suggesting an announcement could come around Mexico or Brazil.
• Austin’s Sprint weekend offers Colapinto an extra chance to score, with Sprint qualifying on Friday and a short race on Saturday before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
• Context for Alpine’s caution includes a last‑place standing in the constructors’ table with 20 points, all scored by Gasly, and a strategic reset for 2026 when the team will run Mercedes power under new regulations.
• Elsewhere in the market, Toto Wolff says Andrea Kimi Antonelli will stay at Mercedes in 2026, Aston Martin technical chief Enrico Cardile projects confidence for the 2026 rules, and commentator Sam Bird questions Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull future as an opinion.