Franco Colapinto in the paddock at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures

Colapinto says he is improving at Alpine despite no points scored

22:23, 16 Oct

Updated: 22:24, 16 Oct

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byBen Hunt

Franco Colapinto reckons he is making steady progress at Alpine - even if the results don’t show it.

- Franco Colapinto

The 22-year-old is yet to score a single point this season and finished 16th last out in Singapore and was in 19th place in Azerbaijan. However, the driver, who has yet to find out if he will be retained by Alpine for 2026, believes he is improving.

Speaking ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, he said: “I think I'm just starting to find my feet in the last few races after the summer break and just before I could start to feel that the pace was improving.

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"I am working really well with my engineers. We also know that we need to find more pace out of the package that we've got. It's not at the moment where we want or where we expect to be at this point of the year.

“We are trying to work hard, trying to understand our issues, trying to come to the races that we know are a bit more beneficial for our car, trying to be spot-on with the setup and trying to be ready from first practice. But yes, sometimes we are struggling to bring that pace from track to track.”

Colapinto at the FIA press conference in Austin - Photo: Race Pictures

Colapinto on Alpine future

Colapinto was quizzed about his uncertain future in the team after his teammate Pierre Gasly was offered a new deal for next season. He added: “On my side, of course, I am learning and understanding the car better from session after session, but yes, it's been tough.

“I think clearly an improvement. The last five races have been positive on the personal side, but of course not happy with the result of the team at the moment.

“I think just keep doing what I'm doing. I'm working very well with the team, so very happy about that.

“Especially looking at these last five rounds. We really struggle for pace and to see that we are not giving up and everyone in the team is still motivated. The engineers, the mechanics, they are pushing us as if we will be scoring points.”

“We are not at the moment, but it's good to see the motivation that they have to keep pushing, keep finding more performance out of the car.”

Alpine also have Australian driver Jack Doohan and Estonian Paul Aron on their books.

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