F1 insider doubts Franco Colapinto brings ‘that much money’ to Alpine with 2026 contract

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Franco Colapinto’s commercial value is said to be key to his Formula 1 career, but the amount of money he brings to Alpine has been questioned.

The 21-year-old is the first Argentine F1 driver since 2001, and his arrival at the end of 2024 reignited interest in the sport in the country. Recently, 600,000 people gathered to watch Colapinto in a show run on the streets of Buenos Aires.

His impact on the sport was noticeable almost immediately, with Williams receiving an influx of offers from Argentine sponsors. In 2025, following his move to Alpine, the Imola paddock was covered in Argentina football shirts and flags.

Colapinto’s sponsors were a key factor in Flavio Briatore signing him from Williams. But with a tough 2025 campaign throwing his F1 future into uncertainty, some have likened him to a pay driver, but Nelson Valkenburg has dispelled this.

Franco Colapinto ‘didn’t pay for his seat’ at Alpine

While discussing Colapinto’s qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix, which saw him start the race in P8, journalist Jennie Gow mentioned how he brings huge money to Alpine, via the Chequered Flag podcast.

She said: “The money is a big factor. People say he’s just a pay driver. He brings so much money to that seat. This weekend, he’s trying desperately to prove, ‘Yes, I have brought lots of money, but I’ve got 600,000 fans behind me, and I can drive this car successfully.”

Valkenburg, though, is not as convinced that Colapinto brings a lot of money to the team, and he says that he certainly did not buy his way to the seat.

“I must admit, I’m not sure he brings that much money. I think that he brings some combinations, but I don’t believe he has a contract where money has changed hands,” he said.

Commentator Harry Benjamin then said: “But he opens up the opportunity,” to which Valkenburg replied: “There is commercial opportunities there. But I tend to believe that he didn’t pay for his seat.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Franco Colapinto from F1 stats to height

Who should Alpine replace Franco Colapinto with if he fails to live up to expectations this season?

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Performances like the Miami Grand Prix will save Franco Colapinto’s F1 career

After scoring no points in 2025, Colapinto is now under pressure to keep his seat at Alpine in 2026. However, with Mercedes engines, the team and the Argentine are making strong improvements.

The 21-year-old scored his first points for the Enstone team in Shanghai before grabbing his best result in F1 in Miami. Colapinto finished P8, but was promoted to P7 after Charles Leclerc was penalised for excessive track limit violations.

Sitting 11th in the standings, Colapinto is starting to produce the performances that are required of him. If he can keep this up, he is certainly in with a chance of keeping his seat in F1 in 2027.