F1 driver who fans are urging Alpine to sign is now ‘extremely’ unlikely to replace Franco Colapinto

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Franco Colapinto’s wait for his first Formula 1 points as an Alpine driver has reached 10 rounds, after registering one of his worst results to date in the 2025 Italian Grand Prix.

All three of the 22-year-old’s worst results since Alpine replaced Jack Doohan this May have also come during the past four rounds. Colapinto only achieved P19 in the Belgian GP, P18 in the Hungarian GP and P17 in the Italian GP, with P11 in the Dutch GP marking a slight outlier.

Colapinto’s P11 in the Dutch GP even marked his best result with Alpine so far in the 2025 F1 season. But the Argentine was unable to use his result at Zandvoort as a launchpad for more at Monza, as Alpine endured a weekend to forget with Pierre Gasly also only finishing in P16.

It also did not help that Colapinto stated “I’m so scared” over Alpine’s radio at Monza, as the Buenos Aires native dealt with a brake issue. Colapinto will now look to bounce back in Baku next time out, having secured his first points for Williams with P8 in the 2024 Azerbaijan GP.

Flavio Briatore is ‘extremely’ unlikely to sign Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda for Alpine

Alpine will want to see more from Colapinto during the final eight rounds of the season if he is to secure a seat in their 2026 F1 driver line-up. Executive adviser Flavio Briatore has a host of candidates on his shortlist to replace Colapinto next year if the Argentine fails to improve.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

But the Japanese edition of Motorsport.com reports that the chances of Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda replacing Colapinto at Alpine in 2026 are now ‘extremely slim’. Briatore is not keen on a move for the 25-year-old, should he become available, which threatens his future in F1.

Colapinto and Tsunoda are both fighting for their Formula 1 careers, as neither currently has a contract for the 2026 campaign. Alpine would also be the only realistic option for Tsunoda if Red Bull decide against retaining him, with Mercedes controlling the only other drives left.

Tsunoda, therefore, is now in a ‘make or break’ situation to save his F1 career. The Kanagawa native either has to convince Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies and motorsport adviser Helmut Marko to give him a new contract or change Briatore’s mind about a move to Alpine.

Yuki Tsunoda’s agent has refused to dismiss talks with Alpine amid Franco Colapinto’s uncertain future

Briatore’s reluctance for Alpine to sign Tsunoda if he leaves Red Bull risks upsetting many F1 supporters. Fans are urging Alpine to sign Tsunoda for 2026 after tying his close friend Gasly down with a fresh contract through the 2028 season before last week’s Italian GP at Monza.

Tsunoda’s agent has refused to dismiss talks with Alpine, with the Japanese racer one of the more experienced options on the F1 driver market to potentially replace Colapinto. Red Bull saw Tsunoda start his 103rd Grand Prix at Monza, in which he has earned 103 career points.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know

But Briatore’s shortlist to replace Colapinto at Alpine includes their reserve driver Paul Aron, as well as Mick Schumacher plus Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich and academy talent Jak Crawford. Like Colapinto, Tsunoda is also struggling for form for Red Bull so far this term.

The Italian GP saw Tsunoda fail to score a point during a Grand Prix for Red Bull for the 10th time in 14 appearances since he replaced Liam Lawson in March. He finished P13 at Monza as, like Colapinto, the Japanese racer failed to build on a strong result at Zandvoort with P9.

Franz Tost has raised doubts about Tsunoda’s work ethic, too, as the ex-Toro Rosso F1 team principal fears he does not seem “hardworking enough”. Tost questions if Tsunoda is putting in the effort needed to understand why he is so often massively off Max Verstappen’s speed.