Alpine Executive Director Disappointed with Monaco GP Performance, Franco Colapinto Shines Bright
Alpine’s latest signing, Franco Colapinto, managed to impress at the Monaco Grand Prix by avoiding any crashes on the challenging street circuit. Despite Colapinto’s commendable performance, the team’s executive director, Flavio Briatore, expressed his dissatisfaction with the overall weekend in Monte Carlo.
The weekend started on a low note for Alpine, with Pierre Gasly and Colapinto finishing 17th and 20th in Friday’s practice sessions. The struggles continued into Saturday’s qualifying session, where both drivers were eliminated in Q1, with Colapinto being the slowest among the 20 drivers. However, the Argentinean driver’s qualifying session was an improvement from the previous weekend in Imola, where he crashed out.
During the Grand Prix, Gasly’s race took a turn for the worse when he collided with Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, causing significant damage to his car. On the other hand, Colapinto managed to bring his car home in 13th place, marking a relatively successful race for the rookie driver.
Flavio Briatore candidly admitted his disappointment with Alpine’s performance, stating, “I’m not okay. The only good thing this weekend was Franco, who didn’t have any crashes, and the rest we’ll have to forget. It wasn’t our weekend. Barcelona is tough, but we hope it will go better than here.”
Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan, was given three simple goals by Briatore: to be fast, avoid crashes, and score points. While the young driver showed promise in Monaco, the pressure is on for him to secure his seat in the competitive world of Formula 1.
Despite the challenges ahead, fellow Argentinean and WEC driver, José María López, expressed confidence in Colapinto’s abilities, stating, “He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone at this time, and the results are going to come.”
As the Formula 1 season progresses, all eyes will be on Franco Colapinto as he navigates the demanding world of motorsport and strives to make a name for himself on the global stage.
