Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Franco Colapinto tested Alpine’s aero upgrades in Silverstone filming day after ‘promising’ CFD data.
Alpine chiefs think there is more to gain with the A525’s aerodynamic platform, according to Autosport Web, which reports that Colapinto tested Alpine’s latest aero updates during a filming day at Silverstone this Wednesday.
17 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Alpine’s wind tunnel, CFD and simulator tests had all yielded ‘promising results’, which they wanted to check in real-world conditions before unleashing them in a race weekend. Alpine also utilised the filming day to conduct further tests on utilising their Mercedes power unit. After the Renault Group closed the French brand’s factory F1 engine programme, Alpine set foot into new territory this year by becoming a Mercedes PU customer. Alpine are still trying to fully understand Mercedes’ engine, owing to changes brought by the 2026 F1 regulations.

It has also been said that Alpine viewed their filming day at Silverstone as a training exercise for Colapinto, given that Gasly has earned 15 of their 16 points to sit eighth in the F1 drivers’ standings. The Argentine ranks in just 16th place after three rounds with his one point so far. Colapinto is the lowest-ranked driver to have earned a point over the opening three rounds, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon boasting a superior second-best finish to sit in 15th place with one point.

Ocon took P11 in Australia and P14 in China before taking his point with P10 in Japan. Alpine will now want to see Colapinto make full use of their new aero updates at the Miami Grand Prix to help Gasly fend off Haas for the best midfield team status. Colapinto only took P14 in Australia and P16 in Japan, 33.433s behind Gasly, on either side of his P10 in China.

‘Promising results’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fra...sing-cfd-data/


Flavio Briatore schedules extra ‘training’ for Franco Colapinto as Alpine struggles continue
16 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Flavio Briatore lines up Alpine test for Franco Colapinto. Alpine used their second permitted filming day at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, on Wednesday. Their programme was capped at 200km by the regulations, but they were able to test their upgrade package for the Miami GP.

According to Motorsport IT, Briatore chose Colapinto over Gasly for the test because he knows that he ‘needs the most training’. Gasly is in ‘excellent form’ but the Argentine is lagging behind. Even at the season opener in Australia, one Alpine insider said Colapinto is not ‘on the same level’ as Gasly. With the team battling for a top-five spot in the constructors’, they need production from both drivers.

Briatore is notoriously impatient with drivers but he has given Colapinto the best part of a year since he replaced Jack Doohan. The Argentine survived a scoreless 2025, partly due to Alpine having the slowest car on the grid, but expectations have increased, in line with the team’s improvements. Colapinto has not met that standard so far.

‘Not ‘on the same level’ as Gasly’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fla...gles-continue/


Colapinto to drive F1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires
31 Mar 2026
Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP
Buenos Aires Times

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto confirmed Tuesday that he will perform a special driving "road show" demonstration in a Formula 1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires on April 26, ahead of competing in the Miami Grand Prix in May. “See you at home, everyone come along!” wrote the 22-year-old driver on Instagram on Tuesday as he announced the event. The event will turn Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento, in the tourist district of Palermo, into a two-kilometre street circuit. He will drive 2012 E20, powered by a Renault V8 engine, fully branded with the Alpine team’s livery. It will be the first time a Formula 1 car has been driven in Buenos Aires in 14 years.

“Driving a Formula 1 car at home will be one of the most special moments of my life. It’s my way of giving back, even if only a little, all the support and affection I’ve received since I was very young, which drives me every day to keep dreaming of achieving all my career goals. Every message, every flag and every word of encouragement has always been there for me. This is for all of you, so we can enjoy this special moment together,” said Colapinto in a statement.

‘F1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires’;

https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/spor...os-aires.phtml


Alpine publish 11-page letter over Colapinto ‘sabotage’ accusations
2 Apr 2026
Kieran Jackson
The Independent

Alpine’s F1 team have published a unique 11-page letter on Thursday after accusations of “sabotage” towards their driver Franco Colapinto on social media.

‘Unique 11-page letter’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/alp...-b2950747.html


Alpine highlight “equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive,” in open letter addressing online abuse
6 April 2026
Jawad Yaqub
F1 Chronicle

Alpine have issued an open letter highlighting their commitment to providing “equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive,” following online abuse accusing the team of sabotaging Franco Colapinto’s car. The sabotage claims emerged during the Shanghai weekend, where it was alleged that Pierre Gasly’s car was deliberately superior in performance to Colapinto’s.

This claim was ultimately rebuked by Alpine, who addressed the issue of low-performance-impacting parts used in China. “The team endeavours to put the two fastest cars on track and provide equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive and score important points for the team in the championship,” said the open letter.

“This has remained the case this year and both Pierre and Franco have been running with the same equipment, barring some small low-performance impacting parts in China due to switching gearbox components. Any questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out.”

‘Sabotage claims’;

https://f1chronicle.com/alpine-highl.../?nowprocket=1


Alpine rejects ‘sabotage’ accusations in strong Colapinto defence
3 Apr 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Alpine moved to shut down any speculation over a disparity in equipment between its two drivers. "Any questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out. There might be times this year when pushing in the development race that upgrades come to one car first, which the team will communicate and be completely transparent about. That being said, the aim will always remain to bring upgrades to both cars where possible."

The note finally reads: "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. From the opening races, the team finds itself in a strong position and the team is not counting on its laurels and is staying grounded. At the last two races, the team has been the fourth fastest car and we know we have to work incredibly hard to stay there and have two cars regularly in with a chance of scoring points."

‘Alpine rejects ‘sabotage’ accusations’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/alpin...apinto-defence


Alpine have a new off-track ‘problem’ with Franco Colapinto and his F1 future is in doubt
13 Apr 2026
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Franco Colapinto is facing pressure from Alpine to keep his seat in Formula 1 in 2026, and the Enstone outfit are finding more issues with the Argentine. Since replacing Jack Doohan six races into 2025, Colapinto has struggled to match the pace of teammate Pierre Gasly.

In 2026, the Frenchman has finished in the points in every race so far, while the 21-year-old only scored his first points for Alpine in Shanghai. The pace deficit between the two drivers, notably in qualifying, has been a real issue. Alpine insiders say Colapinto is not on Gasly’s level, and now the team could have a problem with the Argentine off the track.

‘Franco Colapinto is facing pressure’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/alp...e-is-in-doubt/


Franco Colapinto sends defiant message amid rapid Alpine improvement
5 Apr 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Franco Colapinto has explained how Alpine's resurgence in F1 this season has made him "happier" and feeling "more confident" compared to the torrid campaign the team endured last year. "I'm happier, of course," he told media, including RacingNews365. "When you can fight a bit further up, it makes you feel more confident, makes you give that extra little bit in different situations.”

"I think when you are so close to Q3, when you're in the fight, it is different. Last year, unfortunately, we didn't have that. This year, it's looking much better, and of course, the car did steps, and it's looking much closer to the other teams."

‘Defiant message’;

https://racingnews365.com/franco-col...ne-improvement

[Fortitude]

Sergio Perez rebukes Mario Andretti over 'rusty' Cadillac F1 concern.
"To be honest, I think we've been performing on a very high level," Perez told the media, including RacingNews365, ahead of the Japanese GP when presented with Andretti's comments.
9 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Cadillac director Mario Andretti recently claimed that both the team's drivers were "rusty", with Sergio Perez refuting that. Sergio Perez has dismissed concerns from Cadillac F1 director Mario Andretti that he and team-mate Valtteri Bottas are "rusty".

"I was especially happy with my weekend in Melbourne, my first qualifying and was quite happy with the race. We had very different scenarios; we had a lot of damage, so it really hasn't been straightforward.”

"I had a lot of damage and deployment issues in Shanghai, so I haven't had a complete weekend, let's say. But I think in terms of my performance, I'm fairly happy with it, coming back and straight away, I was on the pace in a couple of days, and I believe I am in a good place in regards to driving."

‘Sergio Perez rebukes Mario Andretti’;

https://racingnews365.com/sergio-per...lac-f1-concern


‘Rusty, me?’: Perez fires back at Andretti’s Cadillac claim
05/04/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

At last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Perez stood his ground, attributing his lack of points not to "rust," but to the brutal reality of racing a debutant car plagued in the openings round by technical gremlins and heavy in-race damage.

“To be honest I think we've been performing on a very high level,” the six-time grand prix winner insisted. “I was very happy with my weekend in Melbourne, my first qualifying, I was quite happy with it. In the race we had very different scenarios, we had a lot of damage.”

For Perez, the "pace" is already there; the "luck" simply hasn't followed. “I haven't had a complete weekend let's say, but I think in terms of my performance I'm fairly happy with it. Coming back and straight away I was on the pace within a couple of days. I believe I'm in a good place in regards to driving.”

‘Perez fires back’;

https://f1i.com/news/562518-rusty-me...lac-claim.html


Sergio Perez issues Cadillac demand ahead of 'biggest test'
Cadillac has spent the opening F1 weekends of the season getting up to speed - but now it is targeting steps forward.
7 Apr 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Sergio Perez has expressed hope that Cadillac will bring a significant car upgrade to the upcoming Miami round. However, Perez outlined that Cadillac needs to find substantial lap time to keep up with the competition, and hopes it can deliver in Miami, which hosts round four of the season at the start of May.

“It’s clear that we need a second now,” he said. “And I really hope that we are bringing a big upgrade for Miami, and that will be the biggest test for the team. We’ve been progressing every grand prix. This is the first grand prix that more or less everything has been straightforward - apart from the deployment issues I had [on Saturday].”

“I really hope that we can make that step in the mix with the midfield. There are a lot of areas, but at the moment, the main one is low [speed] is where we are lacking. The balance itself is not too bad.”

'Biggest test';

https://racingnews365.com/sergio-per...f-biggest-test


Cadillac weigh up major Miami upgrades after April break: 'We need a second'
8 Apr 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are hopeful the American giant can bring a "big upgrade" to the Miami Grand Prix, the team's first ever home race. Speaking to media post-GP, Perez reflected on his race in Suzuka: "When I was racing the Williams, the Alpine, I could see that they're not too far away, they're just able to consistently keep finding pace and pace.”

"It's clear that we need a second now and I really hope that we are bringing a big upgrade for Miami. That will be the biggest test for the team. I think there's a lot of areas, but I think at the moment the main one is load, it's where we are lacking the most. Balance itself is not too bad, it's just that we are lacking the load."

'We need a second';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/cadil...-need-a-second


Sergio Perez signals Cadillac's "biggest challenge": out-developing other teams
11 Apr 2926
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Sergio Perez: “It has been very promising, but on the other hand, we also look at the lap times and we can see that we need to develop,” said Sergio Perez. “Develop means out-developing our rivals, which is quite a hard thing to do in Formula 1. That’s the biggest challengs that Cadillac as a team faces, because these teams have been here for a while. We really need our A-game and now is the time where we all have to prove that we can do it as a team.”

‘A-game’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/p...eams/10812094/


Cadillac's start ‘promising’ but Perez notes ‘big challenge’ ahead
12/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

If the opening chapter of the Cadillac F1 team’s debut season was about survival, the early verdict is cautiously encouraging. Three races in, and both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have brought the new outfit home twice in succession in China and Japan – a small milestone, but a meaningful one for a brand-new entry still finding its feet. Despite the steep incline, the Mexican veteran sees a solid foundation beneath the tyre smoke.

"I believe that we have a good structure, the team is in a good place, and hopefully when we start to develop, we can make significant steps,” he added. “I think we are on target at the moment. It's still early days, so I'm happy with where we currently are. But at the same time, we did progress a lot from the first to the second race and I want to see the same. We all want to see massive progress, and we want to start closing up the gap right now."

That sense of momentum is real – but so is the urgency. Behind the scenes, Cadillac has already started to flex its upgrade programme under the gaze of Nick Chester. A revised diffuser aimed at generating extra rear downforce was introduced in Japan as part of an early push to stabilise balance and build platform performance. More updates are planned for Miami, but the catch is obvious: everyone else is upgrading too.

“I think we are on target at the moment”;

https://f1i.com/news/562761-cadillac...nge-ahead.html