New Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen says that the team is still “in several races” from making a decision on their drivers for 2026 Franco Franknto next year.
Kolapinto hopes to make his argument to stay in the frame in the team, and overestimated Pierre Gazli – who recently signed a more long -term extension to his transaction – in three of the last four races.
The team is believed that it is focused on its internal options on 2026, including the predecessor of Kolapinto. Jack Dohan And to reserve the floor of Aron, if Argentinean cannot offer his requirement for extension.
Nielsen praised Kolapinto for entering the deadlines with bacalia over the recent races, but says that the team needs more to make the final decision – to a large extent to evaluate whether this improvement of the form continues.
“I think this is difficult for any of the new drivers. We saw a tide and stream in many of them, which came from F2, ”said Nielsen. “Franco had a difficult beginning. I think we saw that it leveled and calmed down a little. Now he had a measure of Pierre in the last two or three races.
“Thus, he is at the same level with him, and this is good. We do not know where this slope will end, whether it will continue. We hope this is so. And then we will make our decision about Franco and those who are still in the frame when we need. But we are in a few races from this. ”
Despite the fact that Dohan’s chances of repression are considered harmonious, Nielsen said that the Australian was “still part of our program” and will not be drawn ”if he would go again.”
Steve Nielsen, Managing Director of Alpine F1
Photo: Sam Bagnal / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Alpine Performance 'does not reflect the talent of ENSTONE'
Considering his first month responsible for Alpine operations on Enstone, Nielsen compared it with a return to his “old school”; The Briton had two previous spells with the team through Benetton and Renault.
Nielsen left Toro Rosso to join Formula 1 “Management” (FOM) as a sports director in 2017, and then moved to FIA in 2023 for a 11-month spell with a governing body. He pointed to many modern F1 elements, such as a budget capsules, as some of the biggest differences, since it was the last part of the team.
“You return to the old school, and its pieces are really familiar, but a little less than you remember. Her pieces are new. It was great to return, ”he said.
“They made me feel very welcome guests. Some old acquaintances, many new faces, which is also good. But although I went in for sports this time, I have not been on the team for eight years.
“Thus, there is a majority in which I encounter speed and is fond of what has changed in the racing team over the past eight years – and there are a lot of them. Things such as a budget drop did not exist the last time when I was part of the team. Now it is. “
Speaking about the team that he now has at his disposal, Nielsen added that the current position of the Alpina supports the lower part of the order for the championship, does not indicate the skill of engineers.
“This is a great place. There is some wonderful talent there, ”he said. “What we put on the track at the moment does not reflect the skills that we have, and those opportunities that we have, and our task is to change it.”
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