ENSTONE, England (AP) — Franco Colapinto’s most successful Formula 1 season yet has been rewarded with a confirmation that he will stay with Alpine for the 2027 season.

Alpine said Thursday that the Argentine driver will remain teammates with Pierre Gasly, who signed an extension through 2028 last year.

“I feel very happy and very settled here and it’s been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last,” Colapinto said. “We have a lot more milestones to reach and I know the team is working so hard in finding performance and making the car better and better.”

Colapinto is 12th in the championship and recorded a career-best race finish of sixth at the Canadian Grand Prix in May, though his tally of 19 points is less than half of Gasly’s 44.

It’s the first full season in F1 for Colapinto, who made his debut as a mid-season replacement for Logan Sargeant at Williams in 2024, becoming the first Argentine driver in F1 since 2001. He replaced Jack Doohan at Alpine after six races in 2025, though didn’t score a point that year.

His contract extension comes after two penalties for Colapinto at the Dutch Grand Prix last week sparked a social media backlash. The FIA warned against “harassment” of the race stewards who decide penalties, without singling out any driver.

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