Franco Colapinto’s ability to keep his car intact at the Monaco Grand Prix stood out as the sole highlight, amid a challenging weekend for Alpine.
Alpine endured a challenging race weekend in Monte Carlo, with practice sessions hinting at the struggle to come. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto sat at the back, ranking 17th and 20th respectively during Friday’s practice. By Saturday, hopes were further dashed as both drivers failed to advance beyond Q1, with Gasly finishing 18th and Colapinto, unfortunately, clocking the slowest time amongst the lineup.
The race itself was equally disheartening for Alpine. Gasly found himself in a tangle at the Nouvelle chicane, resulting in a damaged A525 and a premature end to his race aspirations. Meanwhile, Colapinto managed to glide through the event without major incidents, finishing in 13th place. To Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive director, Colapinto’s lack of mishaps was the only saving grace for their Monaco expedition.
In a candid interaction with DAZN, Briatore expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, “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.” Both Briatore and Colapinto now look towards Barcelona with hopes of improved outcomes in the next race.
Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan, faces clear expectations from Briatore: be fast, avoid crashes, and score points. Although these responsibilities seem straightforward, the pressure within Formula 1 is immense, as noted by fellow Argentine and WEC driver José María López. López supported Colapinto, highlighting the rigorous nature of F1 and expressing confidence in his compatriot’s capabilities.
López told ESPN, “Formula 1 has changed a lot. The terrible pressure that young guys handle is difficult. At the same time, there are only 20 seats, and the teams make that count, they need quick results because they have the pressure too. A small mistake can put you in the wall.” López emphasized the need for Colapinto to gain confidence, both personally and with the team, noting that the car’s performance, particularly when compared to Gasly’s, posed additional challenges.
While Briatore’s previous remarks about former driver Jack Doohan were less than encouraging, his sentiments towards Colapinto are more optimistic. Colapinto remains under pressure to deliver, yet his ability to navigate Monaco sans damage perhaps marks the beginning of building such confidence.
The Monaco Grand Prix proved to be a test of endurance and patience for Alpine. While the weekend was marred by setbacks, Franco Colapinto’s incident-free race provided a glimmer of hope. As the team looks ahead to Barcelona, the focus will be on performance improvements and meeting the expectations set by Flavio Briatore. With perseverance and resilience, the upcoming races could herald a turnaround for the team.
