Alpine Denies Gasly Favoritism Claims in F1 Driver Lineup

Alpine F1 has strongly refuted accusations of favoritism towards driver Pierre Gasly over his teammate, Franco Colapinto, following recent performances in the Formula 1 season. The team released an open letter on Thursday, April 2, 2026, addressing concerns raised by fans regarding parity between the two cars, particularly after Colapinto’s 16th-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix while Gasly secured seventh place, even surpassing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The accusations, primarily voiced on social media, alleged that Alpine was intentionally hindering Colapinto’s performance. Alpine emphatically denied these claims, stating that any suggestion of sabotage or unequal treatment is “completely unfounded.”

“Franco is our driver and the team has placed its trust in him, just as he has with the team. That is an indication of the commitment we have to Franco and his place in the team with equal footing alongside Pierre.”

Alpine F1 Team, Open Letter, April 2, 2026

The team acknowledged that certain components are sometimes fast-tracked for development, but stressed that both Gasly and Colapinto have been equipped with the same hardware, with the exception of some low-performance impacting parts in China due to a gearbox component switch. Alpine emphasized that deliberately compromising a driver’s performance is counterproductive to the team’s overall goals.

“It’s absolutely not in the team’s interests to not score points and any suggestion of self sabotage isn’t conducive to that ultimate end goal.”

Alpine F1 Team, Open Letter, April 2, 2026

Alpine’s statement comes after a period of improved performance for the team, which finished last in 2025. Gasly has scored points at every event in 2026, accumulating 15 points, while Colapinto has earned one point, achieved at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team noted that they have been the fourth fastest car in the last two races and are focused on maintaining that position.

The team also highlighted the collaborative relationship between the two drivers, stating that Gasly and Colapinto regularly share data and feedback. Alpine praised Gasly’s experience and consistent performance, while reaffirming their commitment to Colapinto’s development.

The controversy arose after Colapinto expressed a need for performance improvements to his car following the Chinese Grand Prix, stating that the parts he lacked would “really help.” This led to some fans alleging preferential treatment for Gasly. Autosport reported that the claims originated primarily from Argentinian fans on social media.

Alpine’s open letter, published on Thursday, April 2, 2026, is a direct response to the growing online criticism and aims to quell the speculation surrounding the team’s commitment to both drivers. The team maintains that fostering a competitive environment with equal opportunities for both drivers is crucial for achieving their objectives in the 2026 Formula 1 season.