Alpine Formula One driver Franco Colapinto has sent shockwaves through the F1 community after revealing a remarkably muscular new physique in a viral social media post. The 22-year-old Argentine, preparing for his second full season with the team in 2026, appears almost unrecognisable after an intense off-season training regime.
Viral Video Reveals Dramatic Change
In footage shared last week, Colapinto was captured running shirtless along a road in Uruguay, where he has been training during his final days in South America. The video, filmed by his coach and friend Lucas Benamo, clearly shows the driver has packed on significant upper body muscle and developed far more definition since fans last saw him at the end of the 2025 season.
The clip left the F1 fanbase stunned, with an avalanche of comments flooding social media. One supporter exclaimed, "What a shape Franco is [in]," while another declared, "Bro is absolutely JACKED." Others praised his "awesome transformation," with one follower joking that he might now struggle to fit into his Alpine cockpit.
Preparation for a Pivotal Season
Colapinto is set to embark on his third year in the Formula One paddock. After emerging from the Williams Driver Academy and replacing Logan Sargeant midway through the 2024 season, he secured a multi-year deal as a test and reserve driver with Alpine for 2025. His promotion to a race seat came after the Miami Grand Prix, when Jack Doohan was moved to a reserve role, allowing Colapinto to make his team debut at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
His rookie season with Alpine presented challenges. A crash in qualifying at Imola led to a grid penalty, and he finished that race in 16th place. His strongest performance was an 11th-place finish in the Netherlands, but he ended the year without adding to his career tally of five points, finishing 19th in the championship.
Alpine's Support and Future Plans
Despite a difficult debut season with the team, Alpine's management has expressed strong backing for the young driver. Managing director Steve Nielsen recently stated, "Franco is a young driver. We've seen other young drivers go through good and difficult periods - he's on that journey."
Nielsen highlighted Colapinto's potential, noting, "There were races earlier in the year when he was a match for Pierre [Gasly] and on a couple of occasions maybe even faster than Pierre in the races. We'll give him all the support he needs."
Colapinto's physical transformation is part of his rigorous preparation for the upcoming campaign. He is due to return imminently to Alpine's headquarters in Enstone, Oxfordshire, ahead of the team's private testing schedule in late January and February. The official pre-season test is set for Barcelona later this month, marking the start of the 2026 F1 season countdown.
