Colapinto reveals how the ‘tough’ Briatore made him mentally stronger | OneFootball

Franco Colapinto's current situation at Alpine is marked by an adverse context: the team is going through a difficult year and has not yet managed to get out of the back of the grid. However, the Argentine assured that the demanding treatment from Flavio Briatore was key to strengthening him mentally, in what is so far his second year in Formula 1, after his beginnings with Williams in 2024.

The Buenos Aires native joined the team in January, after leaving the British team led by James Vowles, in a reserve role. The Italian executive's bet accelerated when Jack Doohan did not convince with his performances, which resulted in the official debut of the 22-year-old in Imola.

Since then, results have been scarce. The French structure decided to focus its resources on the 2026 project and the lack of competitiveness complicated any aspiration. Even Briatore publicly questioned whether he had jumped the gun by giving him the chance to race, although in recent weeks he expressed support. Far from being uncomfortable, the Argentine driver emphasized that the way the historic leader works was positive for him. "I have a very good relationship with Flavio," he said in a conversation with the Beyond the Grid podcast before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The young man explained that the leader is equally "tough" with everyone, but clarified that he considers it a strength for the team. "He's tough with everyone and his way of making the team work and motivating people... sometimes it can be a bit strong, and if you don't know him, it might seem a bit excessive. It has made me much stronger mentally. I am very grateful, of course, for the opportunity he gave me, but also for this whole process we are going through," he said.

On the track, the numbers do not accompany: Colapinto has not yet scored points and his teammate Pierre Gasly only gathered 20 throughout the season, which keeps Alpine last in the championship. Despite this, the Argentine highlighted the group's attitude. "If you look at the results, you would think: 'Ugh, it's going to be very difficult for Alpine to get out of there.' But I definitely feel that we are not performing," he stressed.

Looking to the future, the runner avoided thinking too much about the possibility of staying in 2026, when the team will switch to Mercedes engines, and preferred to focus on the present: "I want to continue building on what we are doing this year. There is a lot to learn and I still have a lot more to discover".

Aware of the current limitations of the car, Colapinto set an immediate goal: to be prepared when better times come. "That's the main goal now: to go race by race, moment by moment, and see where we end up," he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.