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

The current situation of Franco Colapinto at Alpine is marked by an adverse context: the team is going through a difficult year and has not yet managed to climb out of the bottom of the grid. However, the Argentine assured that the demanding treatment from Flavio Briatore was key to strengthening himself mentally, in what is currently 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, with the role of reserve. The Italian director's gamble accelerated when Jack Doohan failed to impress with his performances, leading to the official debut of the 22-year-old at 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 aspirations. Briatore even publicly questioned whether he had rushed in giving him the chance to race, although in recent weeks he has expressed support. Far from feeling uncomfortable, the Argentine driver emphasized that the way of working of the historic manager was positive for him. "I have a very good relationship with Flavio," he expressed in a conversation with the podcast Beyond the Grid before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The young driver explained that the manager is equally "tough" with everyone, although he clarified that he considers it a strength for the team. "He is tough on 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 noted.

On the track, the numbers are not favorable: Colapinto has not yet scored points, and his teammate Pierre Gasly has only gathered 20 throughout the season, keeping Alpine last in the championship. Despite this, the Argentine praised 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 like we are not performing," he emphasized.

Looking ahead, the driver 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 keep building on what we are doing this year. There is a lot to learn and I still have much more to discover."

Aware of the current limitations of the car, Colapinto set an immediate goal: to be prepared when better times come. "That is 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.