Alpine has eliminated the 'driver change button' - Briatore

      "I’ve misplaced it, it has vanished."

      Flavio Briatore has addressed the speculation surrounding Franco Colapinto’s future with Alpine, humorously claiming that he has "misplaced" the button for driver changes. Colapinto faced challenges during the 2025 season after being promoted mid-season, replacing Jack Doohan, who has since departed Alpine and is moving to Super Formula in Japan. As reserve Paul Aron awaits his opportunity, rumors of another driver change began to emerge. In an interview with RTVE, Briatore mentioned that those concerns have decreased.

      "I think I’ve forgotten where the driver change button is," he joked. "I’ve misplaced it, it has vanished." Briatore noted that Colapinto's primary challenge lies in qualifying, rather than race pace. "Franco's issue is qualifying. He is competitive during the race," he explained. "We can see that he matches Pierre Gasly in terms of speed."

      "We're working diligently with him, and he is evolving rapidly. You can see it on his face – he's becoming more mature." Briatore remarked on the significant transformation Colapinto has undergone since entering Formula 1. "Last year, he was a newcomer from the Pampas. Now he is much more aggressive and stronger," he said. "He is showing more interest in telemetry and engineers' data, spends considerable time in the wind tunnel, and exhibits great discipline."

      "He just needs to concentrate on qualifying. Sometimes he gets overly enthusiastic. He needs to stay calm and ensure he performs well." Briatore emphasized that the team remains dedicated to Colapinto. "These young drivers enter Formula 1 under a lot of pressure," he stated. "He experienced a bit more, but he is now on par with everyone else. We can develop him – that's why we put him in the car."

      Briatore also commented on long-time client Fernando Alonso, who turns 45 this year and is entering a pivotal season with Aston Martin. "Fernando is remarkable and very competitive," Briatore noted. "He can easily continue for another year or two."

      When asked about comparisons between Alonso and Colapinto, Briatore remarked, "Young Fernando was a phenomenon. We’re talking about someone like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, or today’s Max Verstappen. It's too early to draw conclusions about young Franco... besides, the seasoned Alonso is still highly capable." When pressed on whom he would support if Alpine cannot secure a win in 2026, Briatore responded without hesitation, "One hundred percent, I want Fernando to win."