Colapinto to Face No Further Alpine Sanction After Baku Collision
Franco Colapinto says Alpine will take no further action against him after his collision with team-mate Pierre Gasly at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite an angry response from executive advisor Flavio Briatore.
Colapinto locked up at the first safety-car restart in Baku and hit Gasly, ending a promising points opportunity for the team. He already has a five-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race, but Briatore had initially left open the possibility of additional consequences.
The Argentine travelled directly from Baku to Alpine’s Enstone factory and began simulator work at 5am the following morning. The early start was not a punishment, however: the team had planned the session to help him adjust to the time-zone change ahead of Malaysia.
Alpine draws a line after internal review
Colapinto then met with Briatore, managing director Steve Nielsen, racing director Dave Greenwood and engineers to review the incident and discuss how to avoid a repeat. Although Briatore was unhappy, the team ultimately treated the crash as a lesson learned rather than imposing another sanction.
“Of course, Flavio was angry,” Colapinto said. “Everyone in the team was angry. It’s not a nice situation to be in. And even worse to be the one creating that situation.”
He said the discussions were not always easy, but praised Briatore’s leadership and willingness to help the team move forward. Colapinto also acknowledged the cost of the mistake, apologising in particular to Gasly for ending what he described as a strong weekend for them as team-mates.
The driver said the error itself was a small over-application of the brake pedal—around two or three per cent—yet it had major consequences. Other drivers also locked up at Turn 1 during the weekend, he noted, but his mistake came at a point where the impact was especially costly.
Colapinto calls for restraint online
Lando Norris initially called for Colapinto to receive a race ban, then apologised for the comments. Colapinto said he understood that emotions were high, while arguing that public criticism can fuel abuse aimed at drivers and their families. He urged fans to remember that drivers are human, and said online hostility comes from multiple fanbases—not only his own.
The episode is distinct from the confirmed five-place penalty already reported in Alpine’s decision after the Baku collision. Colapinto said the team had resolved the matter internally and was ready to look ahead, while making clear that he regretted the outcome and the points Alpine lost.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.