On Tuesday, I wrote that ten of the twenty-two seats for the 2027 season were locked. Make it eleven. Alpine just confirmed Franco Colapinto on Thursday, and the grid is now exactly half full.
Alpine extended Colapinto's contract, keeping him alongside Gasly for a third consecutive season. Gasly was already signed through at least 2028, so Alpine's line-up is now settled entirely.
Colapinto scored a whole zero points in 2025. Briatore said publicly last August that he wasn't happy with him. He was on a five-race deal that kept getting extended. This year, he has 19 points, six points finishes in twelve races, and a career-best sixth in Canada. That's a driver who saved his own career.
Alonso was linked with a return to Alpine after a frustrating start at Aston Martin. That door is now closed. Alpine sit sixth in the constructors on 63 points and they are chasing fifth, and they'll be doing it under a new name next year: Gucci Racing Alpine.
Eleven confirmed, eleven open. Mercedes still haven't announced Antonelli or Russell but it's heavily believed they will. Hadjar, Lawson, and Lindblad are all on 2026-only deals.
Half the grid is set. The other half still includes the driver leading the championship.