Alpine Government Advisor Flavio Briatore has given the clearest indication but that both Franco Colapinto or Paul Aron will take the second seat on the staff in 2026.
With Pierre Gasly having confirmed his future on the Enstone-based outfit until 2028 forward of the Italian Grand Prix, consideration has turned in the direction of who will accomplice the Frenchman subsequent season.
Colapinto has endured a tough time with Alpine since being introduced in after six races to switch Jack Doohan, the Argentinian failing to attain any factors throughout his tenure thus far and attaining a greatest results of eleventh.
Aron, in the meantime, would enter F1 as a rookie having solely carried out three Free Observe 1 outings this season – two with Kick Sauber and one with Alpine in his position as reserve driver. Previous to that, the Estonian completed third total in his first full-season of F2.
“It’s between Franco and Paul,” Briatore told The Race forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “Paul is a really good man, a really fast driver as nicely. And I want to grasp what’s the greatest for the staff, ?”
“I imply, I don’t have any curiosity with anyone,” added the Italian, when requested if private administration ties would affect his determination.
“Earlier than the individuals had been driving me mad [by complaining] as a result of I used to be managing 50% of the drivers [on the grid]. Now, I don’t handle anyone.
“I don’t care. I don’t have any curiosity. My solely curiosity is to attempt to soak up the staff the very best driver accessible and do the very best job with us. It is so simple as that. I want one other one or two races to see, however truthfully at present I don’t know [which one].”
Via his tenure as Crew Principal at Benetton after which Renault within the Nineties and 2000s, Briatore made a reputation for himself by recognizing future superstars, together with World Champions Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, however admits such expertise has not caught his eye elsewhere.
“I don’t see every other risk,” he mentioned. “We see different ones, however we don’t really feel it [anything special] – as a result of the nice guys go ‘growth’.
“I keep in mind when Schumi was in Group C [sportscars] with Sauber, he received each race…
“GP2 was the identical. [Lewis] Hamilton was bam, bam, bam, bam. Fernando was driving System 3000 or no matter and he was successful each race.
“I keep in mind testing Fernando. I put Fernando in Minardi and Giancarlo [Minardi, team founder] referred to as me and mentioned: ‘I’ve by no means seen stuff like that’.”
