05/07/2025 16:17
Franco Colapinto triggered a red flag during qualifying for the
British Grand Prix, despite miraculously keeping his Alpine out of
the wall at the final corner of the Silverstone Circuit. He had got
going again, but with a whole lap to complete before reaching the
pits, he pulled over to one side at the pit exit. Obligated to stop
if unable to return the car in a safe condition, it nonetheless
triggered the red flag, with the timing board stopped with 6:49 to
go in Q1. "I lost the rears", the Argentine told Alpine over team
radio whilst apologising for the incident. Flavio Briatore was seen
with his head in his hands. The 22-year-old is under considerable
pressure to perform at Team Enstone, and now past his initial
five-round slate in place of Jack Doohan, it is believed he is
essentially running on a race-by-race basis. Since taking over from
the Australian, he has struggled to impress in the same way he did
for Williams last year. He has yet to score a point this term, one
of the requirements drawn up by Briatore, who also asked him to "be
fast" and "not crash". This latest error is his second qualifying
crash in six rounds, the first mistake coming on his first weekend
back, at Imola. It is believed that Valtteri Bottas could be
parachuted into the seat alongside Pierre Gasly unless Colapinto
can turn his form around.
