The Argentine will receive in Monza the same upgrade package that his teammate debuted in Zandvoort. Eight key changes, including a new floor and diffuser, seek to boost the A526's performance and return it to the points zone.
The Alpine team has decided to end the technical asymmetry that existed in its garage. Franco Colapinto will have this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix the same upgrade package that his teammate Pierre Gasly debuted in Zandvoort, the French team after analyzing the comparative data, has confirmed that the Argentine's A526 will receive a total of eight modifications for the Monza round.
Alpine's strategy in the Netherlands was clear: introduce the upgrades only on Gasly's car to evaluate their performance in race conditions; the result was positive. The Frenchman scored two points and showed a pace clearly superior to Colapinto's, although he didn't manage to reach Q3. Now, with evidence of the quality leap that the new parts have provided, the team has decided to extend them to the Argentine's car.
The FIA technical report details the eight modifications coming to Colapinto's car; the standout is the new floor, designed to optimize aerodynamic flow and generate greater downforce in a localized manner. This upgrade is crucial for improving grip in medium- and high-speed corners, a fundamental aspect of the demanding Monza track.
In addition to the floor, the package includes significant changes, with reprofiled elements and optimized edges to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The diffuser, sidepods, and rear of the car have also been modified. One of the most relevant new features is the modified wing flip, a technical detail that aims to refine the car's balance in fast corners and improve braking stability.
Colapinto himself had already praised his teammate's performance in Zandvoort after the introduction of the upgrades: "The upgrades improved a lot; it was a big jump for the team," declared the Argentine, who now hopes to be able to experience that same improvement in his own car. Equal technical conditions between both drivers are a necessary step for Alpine to accurately evaluate the A526's real potential.
The Monza round will be an ideal setting to test these upgrades; the historic Italian circuit, with its long straights and chicanes, will demand maximum aerodynamic efficiency and top speed from the car. The new Alpine package aims to optimize these parameters, although the team knows the power deficit on the long straights remains a pending challenge.
For Colapinto, this update is an opportunity to return to the points. The Argentine has not scored for two races, and technical equality with his teammate will allow him to prove his worth on equal terms. The weekend in Italy, with its three practice sessions, will be key to adapting to the new parts and extracting the A526's full potential.
Monza will be the definitive thermometer to measure the real impact of these upgrades, with both Alpines on equal terms. Colapinto has a unique opportunity to demonstrate his talent and return the team to the fight for points, a goal that seems more achievable than ever.
The goal is clear: get into the fight for points and keep adding to the constructors' championship.
