The F1 2026 season has revealed an exclusive ranking of start reaction times, and Alpine's Franco Colapinto from Argentina sits at the top with an astonishing 0.173 seconds in China, plus two other appearances in the top 10. A breakthrough moment for the young driver.

The Formula 1 season has unveiled a remarkable ranking that highlights the drivers with the sharpest reactions when the five red lights go out at the start of each Grand Prix. In the 2026 season, it's an Argentine who leads the pack: Franco Colapinto, the young Alpine driver who has taken the sport by storm since his debut in 2024.

His most jaw-dropping stat: 0.083 seconds reaction time at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he jumped from 12th to 6th place in the first lap alone, eventually finishing in the points with a tenth place – his first point for Alpine.

The Ranking: Colapinto Dominates

According to the official F1 social media channels, Colapinto holds the top spot with that 0.083-second reaction time in Shanghai. The second-fastest was George Russell, who posted a 0.092-second reaction in the Sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix. But what truly sets Colapinto apart is his consistency: he's the only driver with three times in the top 10:

  • 1st – 0.083s (Chinese GP)
  • 6th – 0.090s (Spanish GP)
  • 9th – 0.095s (British GP)

His results place him above legends like Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris, proving that his natural reflexes are among the best in the world.

Celebrations on Social Media

The Argentine from Pilar (a city just outside Buenos Aires) quickly took to social media to share his excitement: “P1 + top9×3 juuuuuu” he wrote alongside a video of his launch in China. He also spoke about the upcoming upgrade package that his teammate Pierre Gasly will receive for the Dutch GP (21-23 August), noting that he'll only have the update from Monza onwards: “In the simulator, the update seems very powerful and big – a strong improvement to fight the Racing Bulls. If it works fully, it could be a tough weekend for me, but I’ll give it my all.”

What’s Next for Colapinto?

This weekend, Colapinto takes to the Zandvoort circuit for the Dutch Grand Prix, where the Sprint format is confirmed for the top category. Qualifying will be on Saturday 22nd, and the main race on Sunday 23rd of August.

Sources: TyC Sports, Google News.