Sergio Perez sends warning to Franco Colapinto amid links to Alpine for the 2026 F1 season

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Alpine driver Franco Colapinto produced the best performance since his return to Formula 1 at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Franco Colapinto just missed out on reaching Q3 for only the second time in his Formula 1 career at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

He started 10th as a result of Isack Hadjar’s penalty, and for the first portion of the race, he looked in contention to score his first points for Alpine.

However, a far from optimal race strategy saw Colapinto only match his best finish since returning to the grid, coming home in 13th.

Colapinto outperformed Pierre Gasly across the race weekend, which is an important step considering the Argentine was originally announced to have been handed a five-race contract, which ends at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.

Briatore has since rubbished rumours about Colapinto’s future, but one name remains in the reckoning.

Sergio Perez is looking to return to Formula 1 after losing his seat at Red Bull at the end of the 2024 campaign.

Perez has been linked with Alpine in recent weeks and has had his say on how Colapinto’s first four races with the outfit have gone.

READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

Sergio Perez warns Franco Colapinto ‘the road is long’ in F1 after mixed start at Alpine

Perez was interviewed by Ivan Moreira on TikTok and asked about Colapinto’s progress so far this season.

While the six-time race winner was positive about Colapinto’s start at Alpine, he admitted that he can’t take anything for granted at this stage of his career.

He said: “I think Franco is doing very well.

“He has a great future, but in Formula 1, you have to take it step by step because the road is long.

“I am sure he is making good steps in his career”.

Nico Rosberg believes Colapinto is driving for his future every time he jumps in the car, and the Canadian Grand Prix was his most composed performance to date.

He cut out many of the errors that cost him at Imola and Barcelona, but that first point for Alpine continues to evade him.

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

Who are Alpine’s driver options for the 2026 Formula 1 season?

Alpine are one of several teams on the grid yet to confirm their full line-up for when Formula 1’s regulations change in 2026.

Gasly’s contract runs until at least the end of next season, meaning Briatore only needs to find one more driver.

Colapinto is in the strongest position as the incumbent right now, but he will know that he needs to start scoring points soon to avoid being replaced.

Alpine staff think very highly of Paul Aron, while Jack Doohan is still on the team’s books after being replaced following the first six races of the campaign.

The team could easily look outside their current pool of drivers, with Perez being considered as an option.

George Russell is the highest-placed racer in the drivers’ championship yet to sign a contract for 2026, but it would be very hard to see him jump ship from Mercedes to join Alpine.

Cadillac are very keen on signing Perez as part of their first-ever Formula 1 driver line-up, which might be a concern for Alpine.

However, if Colapinto can turn the flourishes of speed he’s shown in his short F1 career into more consistent results, then there’s no reason why Alpine won’t stick with him for 2026.