Franco Colapinto faced unexpected challenges during the Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, causing a temporary setback.
- During the last minutes of Q1, Colapinto’s car was stuck in neutral, preventing him from entering the critical lap.
- Despite holding up the queue, Alpine swiftly diagnosed a driveline issue and replaced the faulty gearbox.
- Colapinto managed to improve his starting position to 18th due to another driver’s withdrawal.
- Team principal Flavio Briatore emphasized the importance of performance for Colapinto’s future in racing.
During the Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session, racing driver Franco Colapinto encountered an unexpected hurdle that briefly derailed his progress. As the clock ticked down in the intense final minutes of Q1 at the Barcelona circuit, Colapinto found himself stranded in the pit lane. His car stubbornly refused to shift into first gear, leaving him stuck in neutral and unable to make the crucial second lap run. “Something is wrong. I release fully the clutch, and I’m still in neutral. It’s not going into first gear,” Colapinto relayed to his team over the radio.
This unforeseen issue forced Colapinto to switch off his engine, ending his session prematurely while he watched competitors push past his time, relegating him to 19th place. Speaking to the media afterward, Colapinto expressed his frustration, noting that despite having strong pace, he was unable to capitalize on it. “I think it’s a pity. We had good pace in the car and were looking strong. We found a lot of performance in the car. We just need to focus on tomorrow,” he said.
Alpine quickly diagnosed the problem as a driveline issue and took swift action to correct it. The gearbox was replaced with another of identical specification, saving Colapinto from the dreaded pit lane start. Thanks to Alpine’s efficient response, he was set to start the race from 18th on the grid, a slight improvement courtesy of Lance Stroll’s withdrawal due to health issues.
Looking ahead, Colapinto hoped to make significant strides during the race to prove his merit in the Alpine seat. Flavio Briatore, during an FIA press conference, reiterated the importance of maintaining performance levels. “Franco Colapinto,” he noted, “we need to wait one second to judge Franco. We see. We see this race. We need the full race.” He stressed that Colapinto’s future as a Formula 1 driver hinges entirely on his performance, emphasizing that the team is making no guarantees without results.
Colapinto’s resilience and Alpine’s swift action set the stage for a thrilling race weekend focused on performance.
