In the run-up to the Brazilian Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber driver, referred to the present of his colleague Franco Colapintowho is close to being officially announced by Alpine for the 2026 season. The Brazilian shared his analysis on the podcast Peels Cluesled by Christian Fittipaldi and Nelsinho Piquet.
The relationship between Bortoleto and Colapinto was forged in the minor categories, where they met repeatedly in various competitions. In this context, the 21-year-old from São Paulo, champion of Formula 2 in 2024 and Formula 3 in 2023, defended the Argentine driver in the face of the questions received during his season in the top category with Alpine after replacing the Australian Jack Doohan on the seventh day. “It’s difficult to judge. We shouldn’t judge drivers just by results…for example people who say Franco isn’t doing a good job and that’s not true.”Bortoleto said during the podcast interview.
The Sauber driver emphasized the technical difficulties of Colapinto’s car. He explained: “He doesn’t have a car to score points, but he’s not far from Gasly. So people don’t talk about him because he doesn’t have a car to score points.”. Bortoleto stressed that it is common among drivers to value performance beyond the final position, given that the distance in material conditions between teams can be decisive.
Colapinto’s period in the premier category this season began on the seventh date of the calendar. Since its debut, the results table shows the lack of competitive potential of its vehicle. It debuted with a 16th place at the Italian Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna. Then he was in Monaco (13th), Spain (15th), Canada (13th), Austria (15th), Great Britain (he could not start), Belgium (he was 19th in both the Sprint and the main race) and Hungary (18th), where he suffered from the serious problems that the team had in the pits. After the long break for the holidays, Colapinto reached his best position in Alpine on the Netherlands track in Zandvoort (12th place). At the Italian GP in Monza he finished in 17th place and finished 19th in Azerbaijan. As the year continued, he took the checkered flag in Singapore (16th) and in Austin, Texas, he was faster than his teammate Pierre Gasly in the Sprint (14th) and the main race (17th). Last weekend in Mexico, he came in 16th place.
Colapinto, during the Media Day held in Brazil, was grateful for competing near his country and underlined the personal connection with Bortoleto. “I want to have a good weekend for the Argentines who are here. I know they make a great effort to come,” he said at a press conference. Regarding the bond with the São Paulo driver, he stressed: “We are like brothers. Seeing that in this sport is very nice.” Furthermore, he said: “Brazil for me is like a second home.”
Months before this appointment, Colapinto had described Bortoleto as his best friend in Formula 1. “I have known him for a long time, when we played karting. He is a good guy and we are both Latin. He is the one with whom I feel closest,” said the Argentine.
Meanwhile, Bortoleto’s year at the helm of one of the Sauber cars shows superior results in points and positions, despite the fact that his team appears as the second least competitive in the constructors’ championship, only ahead of Alpine. Bortoleto accumulates 19 points on the season after finishing eighth in Austria and Italy, ninth in Belgium, sixth in Hungary and tenth in Mexico.
It is worth noting that in the next few hours, Alpine is expected to formalize the designation of Colapinto as an official driver for 2026, a step that would reflect the confidence of the French team in its development process and future projection.
