Franco Colapinto Pins Monza Hopes on Alpine’s Missing Upgrades: “Excited for the Future”

The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix presented a formidable challenge for Franco Colapinto, who finished in 14th place amidst treacherous, mixed conditions at Circuit Zandvoort. The Argentine's struggles were further compounded by a notable mechanical discrepancy within the Alpine garage. While teammate Pierre Gasly was fitted with the team's latest aerodynamic upgrade package, Colapinto was left to navigate the race in older machinery.

Despite the frustration of racing at a technical disadvantage, Colapinto expressed optimism about his performance at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, where his car will receive the highly anticipated parts. He recounted how difficult the Zandvoort course with its sweeping, banked corners and unpredictable weather made, but still managed to execute several impressive overtakes during the wettest parts of the Grand Prix.

Colapinto acknowledged that while the racecraft was satisfying, not scoring points was a disappointing outcome, especially when witnessing the success of his teammate. Noting Gasly's 10th-place finish, Colapinto emphasized the value of the new parts, stating that they would undoubtedly transform his race pace upon arrival at Monza.

Describing the upcoming Italian Grand Prix as a "very big step," Colapinto expressed excitement for the future, recognizing the upgrade package as the potential catalyst for Alpine to challenge for points consistently across the European leg in the Constructors' Championship.