Argentine driver Franco Colapinto will kick off the 2026 Formula 1 season this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, aiming to compete in the midfield and score points with Alpine. Colapinto stated in Melbourne that the team's goal is to 'solidify behind the dominant teams' and 'take advantage of the potential shown by the new A526' during the pre-season tests. Colapinto is already at the Albert Park circuit to contest the championship's first round, marking the first time in his career he starts a full season in the top category. The Argentine faces the start of the year after a challenging 2025 for Alpine, a season where the team prioritized the development of the 2026 car due to the significant regulatory changes that came into effect this year. Pre-season tests in Bahrain left encouraging signs for the French team, and many paddock observers place Alpine as one of the main protagonists in the midfield, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren. In this context, Colapinto outlined a clear objective: 'What we want is to be there, in the midfield group, to be honest,' the 22-year-old driver told the press, as reported by Noticias Argentinas agency. The Argentine clarified that the real picture will only emerge when all teams take to the track in Australia, and explained that the gap with the top four teams seems evident, although the order behind them remains uncertain. 'There is a clear gap with the top four teams, but nobody really knows where each one is. It's very complicated to have concrete expectations before seeing the classification,' he stated. Colapinto also highlighted the team's work during the Bahrain tests and emphasized that Alpine completed the entire planned program before the championship began. 'We worked very well together and covered all the test points we wanted,' he concluded.
