Gasly explodes against Colapinto at Imola and Briatore stops him in his tracks!
At the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Formula 1 experienced a tense episode between Alpine drivers Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly during free practice. The Argentine, making his debut as a driver with the French team, was involved in an incident that sparked the fury of his teammate, while Alpine boss Flavio Briatore intervened to calm the situation.
During the second practice session (FP2), Colapinto, in an attempt to defend his position, unexpectedly used DRS as four-time world champion Max Verstappen was trying to overtake him. This maneuver not only surprised the Dutchman, who expressed his frustration over the radio with a “What is this kid doing?”, but also caused a clash with Gasly, who, according to sources, expressed his annoyance at the young driver’s attitude. The Frenchman, known for his experience and leadership at Alpine, reportedly questioned Colapinto’s aggressiveness on track, especially at a key moment for the team, which is looking to improve its position in the constructors’ championship.
The incident occurred in a context where Alpine showed promising performance. Gasly finished third in FP2 with a time of 1:15.318, just 0.276 seconds behind leader Oscar Piastri, while Colapinto finished a solid 13th, less than half a second behind his teammate. However, the Argentine’s maneuver generated internal criticism, as some felt he prioritized his individual position over teamwork.
Flavio Briatore, who took on a leading role following Oliver Oakes’ departure as team principal, was quick to intervene. The Italian, true to his direct style, reportedly reprimanded Gasly, reminding him of the importance of team cohesion. According to reports, Briatore made it clear that he will not tolerate internal conflicts that harm Alpine’s goals, especially at a time when the team is seeking to recover from an inconsistent start to the season, with just seven points in the championship. Furthermore, Briatore backed Colapinto, highlighting his speed and potential, and denied rumors about a five-race limit for the Argentine: “Franco will do the races he needs to do. If he goes fast, doesn’t crash, and scores points, he’ll drive forever.”
This clash highlights the challenges Alpine faces in integrating a young driver like 21-year-old Colapinto alongside a veteran like Gasly. Despite the incident, the Argentine put in a solid performance, improving his time from 1:17.373 in FP1 to 1:16.044 in FP2, reflecting his quick adaptation to the A525 car .
The Imola Grand Prix, with qualifying scheduled for Saturday and the race on Sunday, will be key to determining whether Colapinto can establish himself at Alpine and whether the relationship with Gasly can stabilize under Briatore’s strict supervision. For now, the French team remains hopeful of capitalizing on his potential and putting internal tensions behind them.
