In a shocking turn of events at the British Grand Prix, FIA has dropped a bomb on a prominent F1 star with a late demotion that has sent shockwaves through the racing world. The unfortunate turn of events unfolded for Franco Colapinto, who faced a disastrous qualifying session starting from the 20th position on the grid. The 22-year-old driver’s woes escalated when he spun off the track during Q1, crashing into the barriers and bringing his qualifying hopes to a sudden halt.
Adding insult to injury, the FIA mandated a significant penalty for Colapinto and his team, Alpine, as they were compelled to make last-minute changes to the power unit components of his car under parc ferme conditions. The alterations included a slew of crucial parts such as a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store, control electronics, and exhaust system. As a result, Colapinto is now set to start from the pit-lane instead of his initial 20th grid position.
The young Argentine driver has been grappling with a series of challenges since stepping into the F1 scene this season, failing to secure a single point in any of his five race weekends so far. Speculations are rife that Flavio Briatore might be contemplating another driver change, with Valtteri Bottas rumored to be in line for a surprising move to Alpine if Colapinto’s struggles persist. Despite initially slated to replace Jack Doohan for five races, Colapinto finds himself competing in his sixth consecutive Grand Prix at Silverstone.
As the threat of rain looms over the circuit, Colapinto and Alpine are hoping for a stroke of luck to propel them up the ranks and salvage some much-needed points. The upcoming race promises to be a make-or-break moment for Colapinto as he strives to break free from his winless streak and prove his mettle on the demanding F1 stage.
