Briatore remains 'patient' with Colapinto following the terrifying Imola incident.

      "Forget about the five races. I make the decisions."

      Flavio Briatore has stated that he will be "patient" with Franco Colapinto following a challenging debut for the Argentine driver at Imola. Supported passionately by Argentine fans and backed by corporate sponsors from his homeland, the 21-year-old stepped in for Jack Doohan at Imola after the team mentioned that Colapinto was assured of only the next five races.

      "No, no," Briatore, who is 75 and currently the acting team principal at Alpine, replied when questioned about the five-race stipulation. "Forget about five races. I decide," he said.

      This is promising news for Colapinto, especially since his first race at Imola did not go as hoped. A rookie mistake resulted in a grid penalty, he frustrated other drivers with his blocking maneuvers, and he suffered a significant crash during qualifying. He ended up starting and finishing in P16 on Sunday, despite both Kimi Antonelli and Esteban Ocon retiring from the race.

      Afterward, speaking with the Spanish press, he focused on the positives. "With each lap I drove, I felt more comfortable with the car and closer to (Pierre) Gasly, who is the benchmark in the team."

      Colapinto maintains that his confidence remains intact despite the difficult weekend. "I’m going to be confident there," he stated when asked about the upcoming Monaco GP. "But I’ll have to take it easy and go step by step. The goal here was to finish the race. Scoring points from where we started was tough, but we did everything we could."

      As for Briatore, who is known for his assertive management style, he removed Doohan after just six races, meaning a similar fate for Colapinto could signal trouble. However, Briatore mentioned to Viaplay: "This was his first race (for Alpine), and he was in a tough position due to his accident. We will see," he added. "We need to be patient because he is a young driver with significant potential."

      Doohan will be observing from the reserve bench with keen interest, alongside another Alpine-associated driver, Mick Schumacher, who competes in the world endurance championship.

      "Mick has more experience than Colapinto," remarked former F1 driver Timo Glock on Sky Deutschland. An additional advantage for young Schumacher is the connection between Briatore and the 26-year-old's father—Briatore’s first F1 champion, Michael Schumacher.

      "He would definitely be a candidate if Colapinto doesn’t perform," Glock noted. "In the WEC, Mick consistently outpaces the other two drivers in that Alpine car, so he’s undoubtedly a viable option."