Flavio Briatore shares whether he overestimated Franco Colapinto amid scoreless run at Alpine

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After impressing in his debut with Williams last year, Franco Colapinto has failed to show his potential in his rookie F1 season at Alpine.

The Argentine is the only current driver on the grid to not have scored a single point this season, as he languishes in the bottom spot of the 2025 drivers’ championship.

Despite signing a multi-year deal with Alpine to replace Jack Doohan after the Miami GP in May, Alpine have compiled a list of replacements for Colapinto as his future in the sport looks to be in doubt.

Colapinto has remained focused at Alpine amid the rumours of his exit. The Argentine is determined to see out his contract at the team and is fixed on developing the 2026 iteration of the Enstone-based F1 team’s car.

If he is to stay within the Alpine ranks for the foreseeable future, the 22-year-old desperately needs to impress the man who is making the decisions, Flavio Briatore.

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

Flavio Briatore admits he overestimated the ‘level’ of Franco Colapinto before signing him at Alpine

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore was asked if he still thinks he made the right choice in swapping Doohan for Colapinto after just six races in the 2025 season.

The Italian team principal identified consistency as the biggest issue for the rookie.

“It’s incredibly difficult for these rookies to demonstrate consistency in their first year,” Briatore started. “Franco has had some difficulties, and perhaps we even overestimated his level, but he’s been doing well lately.

“We still have time to decide what to do for next year: we intend to continue with Pierre Gasly and want the best driver pairing. But what’s clear is that it’s very difficult for these guys at the beginning.”

Colapinto registered his best result of the current campaign at the Dutch GP last weekend, narrowly missing out on his first point of the season as he took the chequered flag in 11th.

The result should be encouraging, with Colapinto also beating podium-sitter Isack Hadjar in one area of the race in the Frenchman’s most impressive race of the season.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Flavio Briatore identifies the ‘risk’ in bringing young F1 drivers onto the grid

In addition to the struggles his own driver has faced this year, Briatore also addressed the issues that his fellow Italian, Kimi Antonelli, has been experiencing in his rookie campaign in the sport.

When asked if his comments about Colapinto also apply to Antonelli, Briatore replied, “Yes, for everyone. Franco gets a lot of media attention in Argentina, and Antonelli in Italy. It’s great, but it’s difficult for them.

“And maybe some start well and then decline, or conversely, others start poorly and then improve. They arrive in F1 very young, maybe even a year or two too early, and there’s a risk of burning out.

“It’s great to have these rookies on the track; they’re a hit in the media, but you have to be patient with them.”

The two drivers were at the bottom of the FP2 timesheets, with the Mercedes driver’s session cut short due to him beaching his W16 in the gravel on the exit of the second Lesmo corner.

Toto Wolff is adamant that Antonelli is still Lewis Hamilton’s best replacement following the 19-year-old’s continual mistakes on-track.