Alpine F1 Team announced Tuesday it extended Franco Colapinto's contract through the 2027 season, retaining him alongside Pierre Gasly for a third consecutive year. The move closes speculation that Williams would attempt to reacquire the Argentine driver they released after a nine-race stint in 2024. Terms were not disclosed; paddock estimates place Colapinto's compensation between $4 million and $6 million annually, below the $8 million-$12 million Williams reportedly offered for a 2026 return.
Colapinto joined Alpine mid-2025 on a two-year deal after Williams opted for Carlos Sainz. He finished 11th in the 2025 drivers' standings with 62 points, outscoring teammate Gasly in eight of 24 races. The extension signals Alpine's preference for known quantities over the open market, where Liam Lawson and Theo Pourchaire are fielding offers. Alpine finished sixth in the 2025 constructors' championship with 189 points, unchanged from 2024.
The decision matters because Alpine is the only team on the grid without a confirmed power unit past 2026. Renault's board meets in March to decide whether to continue factory engine development or switch to Mercedes or Ferrari customer supply for 2028. Locking drivers through 2027 reduces one variable while the technical foundation remains unsettled. Sponsors tracking Alpine's $180 million annual budget are watching whether Renault commits another $120 million to engine operations or reallocates that capital to aerodynamics and personnel.
Gasly, 31 in 2027, is now the grid's fourth-longest-tenured driver with a single constructor after Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc. His base salary sits near $9 million with performance bonuses tied to constructor finish; a top-five result triggers an additional $2 million. Colapinto's extension includes a Williams buyout clause that expires December 2026, meaning James Vowles retains theoretical leverage if Alpine misses Q3 in the first six races of 2027. Williams holds 35% of Colapinto's image rights through a dormant management agreement negotiated during his 2024 loan from their junior program.
The pairing stabilizes Alpine's driver market for 18 months but creates succession risk. Colapinto turns 29 in May 2027; Gasly will be 31. Alpine Academy graduate Victor Martins, who finished fourth in Formula 2 last season, is fielding offers from Haas and Sauber for 2026 reserve roles. If he signs elsewhere, Alpine loses its clearest path to a homegrown lead driver. Team principal Bruno Famin is expected to brief academy stakeholders in Monaco next week on retention strategy.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo said in January that Alpine's F1 program would be evaluated on 2026 performance, with particular attention to whether new technical regulations produced a competitive power unit. The Colapinto extension pushes that decision point to mid-2026, when contract negotiations for 2028 typically begin. If Renault exits engine manufacturing, Alpine's driver lineup becomes more attractive to customer teams seeking experienced pairings without long-term commitments.
Watch for Renault's board resolution in March and whether Alpine promotes Martins to a Friday practice role by the Spanish Grand Prix in June. Williams is expected to confirm its 2027 lineup by September, which will clarify whether the Colapinto buyout clause carries practical weight. Alpine's title sponsor BWT is up for renewal in October 2026; that negotiation will hinge partly on whether the team secures a top-five constructor finish this season, which would guarantee $15 million more in prize money and justify BWT's $30 million annual spend.