Alpine executive Flavio Briatore expressed extreme disappointment following a catastrophic double DNF at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, directly targeting Franco Colapinto for a costly collision with team-mate Pierre Gasly. The incident occurred on a lap 36 restart when Colapinto locked his front tyres on the dusty low-grip inside of the Baku street circuit.
"These sorts of incidents shouldn't happen, particularly when we were running well with both cars in point-scoring positions," Briatore stated in the team's post-race press release, emphasizing the severe impact on their championship standings.
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SubscribeThe crash not only ended the race for both Alpine drivers but also collected McLaren driver Lando Norris, who subsequently voiced strong frustration over the careless driving behavior. Briatore noted that while Colapinto accepted full responsibility for braking far too late, the maneuver was unacceptable for a driver of his experience level.
Looking ahead, the Alpine chief confirmed he will take time to reflect on necessary internal actions to prevent similar mistakes in future races. The incident comes shortly after Colapinto secured a new contract with the Enstone-based squad for the 2027 season following a strong run of form.
Colapinto Faces Scrutiny After Costly Mistake
Franco Colapinto's costly blunder in Baku has sparked intense paddock discussions regarding driver discipline and racecraft during restarts. Formula 1 competitors and team bosses alike scrutinized the late braking maneuver that compromised multiple contenders on the tight street circuit.
"I feel very sorry for the team and for Pierre who did a great job all weekend and my apologies also go to Lando and McLaren for ruining their race," Briatore added, highlighting the widespread collateral damage caused by the miscalculation.
Lando Norris went as far as suggesting that governing bodies should evaluate harsher penalties, such as a potential one-race ban, for dangerous driving standards exhibited during chaotic safety car restarts. The fallout has placed heavy pressure on the young Argentinian driver to regain trust within the garage.
Despite signing a confirmed extension to remain alongside Gasly for 2027, Colapinto must now navigate heightened scrutiny from team leadership as Alpine fights to salvage critical points in the closing stages of the Formula 1 season.