Ted Kravitz says ‘poor’ Formula 1 driver is under mounting pressure to save his race seat at the Belgian Grand Prix

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The Belgian Grand Prix is the first race in a double-header before the Formula 1 summer break.

Traditionally, the summer break is when the Formula 1 driver market bursts into action with contracts signed for the following season.

This year is likely to be slightly different, with more than half of the grid already confirmed for the 2026 campaign.

George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are waiting to find out if they’re going to be retained by Mercedes for next year.

Max Verstappen has been linked with Mercedes, which has slowed down proceedings, although it looks more than likely that Verstappen will stay at Red Bull for at least one more season.

However, both Racing Bulls drivers, Yuki Tsunoda, and Franco Colapinto at Alpine, are all waiting to discover their fates.

Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson were all in the top 10 of qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, boosting their chances of earning new contracts.

Reporter Ted Kravitz continues to worry about Colapinto’s future after another tough start to a race weekend for the Argentine.

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

Ted Kravitz says pressure is mounting on Alpine driver Franco Colapinto

Kravitz was reporting from the Spa pitlane on Ted’s Notebook after qualifying, with Alpine having a disastrous Saturday.

Colapinto was eliminated in Q1 in both qualifying sessions at Spa, while teammate Pierre Gasly showed the 22-year-old the potential that the car had by reaching Q3 in Sprint qualifying.

Unfortunately, a water leak denied Gasly the chance to start the Sprint Race, but he further highlighted the trouble Colapinto is having.

Kravitz explained: “Franco Colapinto’s difficult season continues; he continues to struggle.

“Only a tenth of a second off getting into Q2, but still out in Q1. And that means, unfortunately, the pressure continues to mount on Franco Colapinto.

“We know he’s a good racing driver, we know he’s having difficulties at the moment, but with Jack Doohan, the original driver in that seat, and Valtteri Bottas, the prospective stand-in, still waiting in the wings and on Alpine’s radar, then the pressure only increases on poor Franco Colapinto.

“But, 17th on the grid, maybe he can get some points tomorrow in a wet race, and that would go some way to securing his seat for the future.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Franco Colapinto in danger of losing Alpine seat with ‘offer on the table’ for Valtteri Bottas

Colapinto has now officially been racing for Alpine longer than Jack Doohan this season.

Unfortunately, he looks no closer to scoring points than the Australian, and only sits above him in the drivers’ championship because he’s finished 13th twice rather than just once like Doohan.

Doohan’s chances of racing for Alpine again are ‘very slim’, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Argentine is safe.

Reserve driver Paul Aron will be waiting to see if he gets a chance to replace Colapinto at some point this year.

Valtteri Bottas is said to have an offer on the table from Alpine to make a return to the grid after losing his seat at Sauber last year.

However, the Finn is also on Cadillac’s radar, which could deny Flavio Briatore the opportunity to sign him.