Buenos Aires, Dec 12 (NA) -- Alpine's executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, made a series of firm statements about Argentine driver Franco Colapinto, revealing the complete turnaround in his view of him heading into the 2026 season. Briatore, who had previously expressed doubts about the driver's level, stated that the Buenos Aires native has become a central piece of the French team's sporting project and that 'everyone now believes in him'. In the first months of the partnership, as learned by Noticias Argentinas agency, the Italian had been critical, stating that 'perhaps it was not the right time for Franco to be in Formula 1 and he needed one more year,' in addition to emphasizing that 'I am not happy if you look at the results, that is what matters'. The resurgence that began with 11th place at Silverstone changed that analysis and led him to state that 'the team needs stability and the possibility of keeping the same drivers is part of that stability; stability means I keep both'. This stance later resulted in the official confirmation of Colapinto for 2026. Briatore, who went from initial distrust to full praise, made it clear that the Argentine's growth not only changed the team's perception but also positioned him as one of the protagonists of the new project. He concluded his assessment with a direct message about the challenge facing the Enstone structure: 'My job is to give Pierre and Franco the best possible car for next year.' With an F1 that will change rules and hierarchies in 2026, Alpine is placing the Gasly-Colapinto duo as one of the pillars of its reconstruction. 'He understands his role in the team and performs his job very efficiently. He was very close to Pierre, two tenths up, two tenths down, and I consider Gasly one of the best drivers in Formula 1'. This evolution, he said, was key to supporting him for Alpine's next technical cycle, which will incorporate Mercedes' power unit, transmission, and suspension.
