Alpine's Briatore Moves Past Colapinto's Baku Incident, Focuses on Championship Battle
Alpine Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore has affirmed that the team is ready to put behind them the recent incident involving driver Franco Colapinto at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The focus has swiftly shifted towards the ongoing championship battle against Racing Bulls, emphasizing a forward-looking approach as they aim to improve their standing.
During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto was involved in a three-car collision that led to the retirement of himself, teammate Pierre Gasly, and McLaren's Lando Norris. This unfortunate event resulted in Alpine losing crucial points, particularly as Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad secured a seventh-place finish, widening the gap between the two teams in the constructors' standings. Initially, Briatore expressed significant disappointment and indicated a review of the situation, hinting at potential disciplinary actions. However, following discussions within the team's leadership at their Enstone facility, the decision was made to move past the incident. The team's primary objective is now to close the 15-point deficit to Racing Bulls in the remaining eight races of the season. This strategic pivot aims to prevent any lingering issues from distracting the team from its performance goals.
Speaking in Malaysia on Friday, Briatore elaborated on the team's stance. He acknowledged his initial frustration with the Baku events, mirroring the feelings of the entire team, including Colapinto, who recognized his error. However, Briatore stressed the importance of concentrating on future races, stating, "Whatever we do is internal to the team. Sure, I was very disappointed with what happened in Baku, but [this is] another race. We need to forget. We need to always look to the future, and the past is the past." He concluded by reinforcing the team's inability to alter past events and their determination to push forward. Consequently, Colapinto has been issued a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Given the reduced prospects of scoring points due to this penalty, Alpine has opted to install a new combustion engine in Colapinto's car for the Sepang weekend, incurring an additional 10-place grid penalty. This decision allows the team to strategically manage engine component usage without significantly impacting their points-scoring potential for this particular race.
Ultimately, Alpine's leadership is prioritizing collective performance and a competitive mindset, choosing to channel their energy into achieving their championship aspirations rather than dwelling on a past setback. The team's resolve to challenge Racing Bulls in the remaining races remains strong, demonstrating their commitment to securing a higher position in the final standings.