Argentine race driver Franco Colapinto admitted on Thursday ahead of the 2025 Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix that he has been struggling for confidence since moving to Alpine.

The 22-year-old opened up in the press conference ahead of Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring, admitting he’s not getting along with Alpine’s A525 race car.

“I’m struggling to be able to turn in and to come into the corners, and that’s just not really giving me much confidence,” he told the press. “I didn’t have this issue last year, I could go straight in and be quick straight away.”

The Argentine added he’s struggling to “find [his] feet” in some corners, which has steadily chipped away at his trust in the car.

“Now I’m struggling a bit more with that and that’s the reality,” he said. “I don’t have the confidence as I had maybe last year and that’s a bit costly in F1.”

Since taking over from Australian driver Jack Doohan as a main driver for Alpine, Colapinto’s best results have been 13th places in Monaco and Canada. The 22-year-old insisted he’s been working hard with the team to understand the problems he’s facing, and remained positive that things will improve. 

“It’s just that feeling that nothing has been connected or put back together, and that package that we have, it’s been maximised at times, but not in some other times,” he added. “I feel there is progress that is being made behind the scenes, it’s just that when you don’t see it in results it’s very tricky to keep pushing. It’s going to come, but it’s just taking longer than what I would like.”

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The Hungaroring racetrack is situated on the outskirts of the country capital of Budapest. It’s a track and city Colapinto admitted suits him, and one where he aims at putting “all the pieces of the puzzle together.”

“I’ve achieved several podiums in junior categories at the Hungaroring, and it’s a circuit and a city I like, so  I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car there,” he said.

The race, the 14th in the F1 calendar, will be the last to race before the series enters its summer break, not returning until the Dutch GP at Zandvoort starting August 29.

Colapinto will first take to the track on Friday for Free Practice 1 at 8:30, and then the second free run at 12 p.m. Saturday will see the last free run at 7:30 a.m. before qualifying at 11 a.m. On Sunday, the race is set to start at 10 a.m. All times are Argentina time.