Franco Colapinto Scores Point at Belgian GP but Calls Alpine 'Too Slow'

Franco Colapinto secured a vital point for Alpine at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, but the Argentine driver left Spa-Francorchamps warning the team is 'too slow' to compete with midfield rivals. The Enstone squad remains tied with Racing Bulls on 61 points in the constructors' standings, but Colapinto's 10th-place finish masked deeper struggles.

How did Colapinto earn his point?

Colapinto's race hinged on a strong opening lap and relentless defending. Though he finished behind Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad, he held off Liam Lawson to prevent Racing Bulls from scoring with both cars. The Argentine crossed the line just 1.4 seconds ahead of Lawson after a tense battle.

'I'm happy with the point,' Colapinto said. 'We're struggling with the car, but to score in these conditions and finish ahead of an Audi and a Racing Bulls car is more than we expected.'

Why is Alpine falling behind?

Alpine began the season as the midfield benchmark, highlighted by Pierre Gasly's Monaco podium. But rivals have since closed the gap through development. Colapinto admitted Alpine's car needs significant improvements.

'We need to improve the car a lot,' he said. 'We're too slow at the moment. Even though we maximised the weekend, the car needs to be quicker. We're losing a lot of lap time in some corners compared to the Audis and Racing Bulls.'

What does this mean for the midfield battle?

Gasly's frustration mirrored Colapinto's concerns. The Frenchman lost positions at the start due to a technical issue and finished just outside the points. 'We are miles off,' Gasly said, pointing to the gap between Alpine and the leading midfield teams.

With the midfield fight tightening, Colapinto's point could prove crucial. But Alpine must address its pace deficit to stay competitive as the season progresses.