Briatore emphasizes the need for patience regarding Colapinto's challenges.

      "Franco receives significant media coverage"

      Franco Colapinto's prospects in Formula 1 are unclear as Alpine has secured teammate Pierre Gasly with a new contract that extends until 2028. Once regarded as Flavio Briatore's promising talent, the 22-year-old Argentine has faced a challenging period at Alpine and is currently striving to persuade the team to maintain their confidence in him for 2026.

      "It’s incredibly tough for these newcomers to show consistency in their debut year," Briatore shared with La Gazzetta dello Sport during the Monza event. "Franco has experienced some challenges, and we might have overestimated his abilities, but he has been improving lately, and we still have time to determine our approach for next year. We are continuing with Pierre Gasly and aim for the optimal driver pairing. However, it’s clear that the start is very difficult for these drivers."

      Briatore pointed out Kimi Antonelli’s difficulties at Mercedes as evidence that the current generation of cars poses significant challenges for rookies. "Yes, it’s the same for all of them," he remarked. "Franco garners considerable media attention in Argentina, while Antonelli does in Italy. It’s wonderful, but it’s tough for them. Some may start strong and then decline, while others might struggle at first and then improve. They enter F1 at a very young age, perhaps a year or two too soon, which carries the risk of burnout. It's fantastic to have these rookies on the track—they attract media interest—but patience is essential."

      Gasly, on the other hand, expressed to L’Equipe that his long-term commitment to Alpine signifies his trust in the team's direction. "Naturally, I had questions regarding my future," the French driver said, "but I am very confident in the team's capacity to provide me with a car that will enable me to compete at the front next season.

      "People might consider it a risky decision based on current performance. No one can predict what others will do. However, I have more insight into what I observe at the factory, including the competence of our new hires. I genuinely believe we have a strong team with highly skilled individuals."

      He acknowledged consulting Briatore before re-signing but emphasized that Alpine's commitment influenced his choice to remain. "Being open-minded always makes sense," Gasly noted. "Initially, I mentioned to Flavio that I wasn’t necessarily keen on re-signing. Then, the team's eagerness to keep me, assure me, and clearly include me as a leader in the project was appealing."