Franco Colapinto offered his apologies to Alpine after crashing in his first appearance for the team in qualifying.
The driver who replaced Jack Doohan this weekend spun into a barrier at Tamburello during Q1. He had already set a time quick enough to reach Q2 but was unable to take part in the session.“It’s just a pity,” said Colapinto, who is set to start tomorrow’s race from 15th. “The team has been doing a great job.
“The car was very competitive. We found a lot of pace from [final practice] to quali. [I was] just pushing to the limits, it’s very tight margins here in Q1 and Q2. I was just finding new things lap after lap.
“Unfortunately it was a little mistake that was very costly. So just a big ‘sorry’ to the team.
“I think we have a lot of work to do overnight now, but I’m sure we are going to come back stronger tomorrow.”
Pierre Gasly reached Q3 and will start from 10th place in the other Alpine. Colapinto does not think he could have replicated that result.
“I felt not so comfortable yesterday, today I started to feel much more together with the car and I was already into a good point,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate today.
“The car was very quick, we had very good pace. Pierre is showing it. I don’t know if [I could have reached] Q3, but I’m sure that a good result in Q2, we would have had.”
This article will be updated
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2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
- Antonelli was tiring from home race at Imola attention by Friday – Wolff
- Ferrari struggling to recreate set-up which “worked well” in Shanghai – Hamilton
- Verstappen told Red Bull to use Tsunoda before “hold him up” call
- ‘Saturdays have been mine for years but for some reason it’s drifted away’ – Norris
- “Plan C?”: Why McLaren only got their strategy right for one driver at Imola
Leo B
17th May 2025, 17:25
And if you enjoyed that, there’s plenty more to come from Colapinto….
paulweiss
17th May 2025, 19:42
He had few flying laps, 4 to 5 on each FP, on a new car, he’ll learn. He’s got talent and personality. Need to control himself just a bit more.
BTW: Leo as in ..ooser
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
17th May 2025, 17:27
Gutted. Really, really, not what was needed from him. Margins are really close, but it’s better to avoid that crash happy reputation.
OOliver
17th May 2025, 17:37
I remember a certain Giovinazzi
Jonathan Parkin
17th May 2025, 18:20
I don’t wish to sound overly negative, but this is why I prefer the old 12 laps, 1 hour format for qualifying.
This weekend we have a driver in 15th who officially hasn’t set a time, last time out we had a driver ahead of another with a slower time!
And then we get even more farcical if we have rain in Q2 meaning five drivers are slower than Q3 drivers
No qualifying system is perfect but 12 laps, 1 hour did at least have the fastest guy at the front and the slowest at the back. This is also subject to weather also, but at least all drivers can put in a banker lap at the beginning of a session if they know rain is on the way e.g. 2000 German GP qualifying. In that instance DC’s first lap was good enough for pole
Jon
17th May 2025, 19:08
I preferred the 1hr to. I don’t watch qually much now Because of it.
I think F1 was much simpler
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
17th May 2025, 21:18
He apparently crashed 3 cars during testing a 2023 Alpine at Monza & Qatar one of which was fairly heavy apparently.
Homerlovesbeer (@homerlovesbeer)
18th May 2025, 3:09
Bring back Doohan already. The guy got seriously shafted by Alpine and no way Colapinto is a better choice.