As Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly prepare for the upcoming Formula 1 season with tests in Bahrain, Flavio Briatore, an advisor to the Alpine F1 team, expressed his satisfaction with Colapinto's performance. Briatore believes that Colapinto, who is from Pilar, Argentina, has shown significant improvement and is ready for the challenges of the new season. He emphasized the importance of Colapinto's ability to adapt and increase his pace as they head into competitive races.

In addition to praising Colapinto, Briatore spoke optimistically about Alpine's new Mercedes engine, suggesting that its full potential will only be realized during the first race of the season in Melbourne. He noted that the team feels confident about being competitive and placing among the top contenders, specifically aiming to position themselves just behind the top four teams in the championship standings. Briatore’s comments reflect a strategic optimism as the team gears up for what they hope will be a successful season.

Briatore also acknowledged some current limitations with the car but remained hopeful about overcoming these challenges as they continue testing. His comments underscore the significance of the pre-season testing period in the highly competitive environment of Formula 1, where team dynamics, equipment performance, and driver readiness are all crucial factors that can influence the outcome of the season.