Franco Colapinto defied an instruction to stay behind Alpine Formula 1 team-mate Pierre Gasly in an unusual controversy over 17th place in the final laps of the United States Grand Prix.
Colapinto used a five-lap offset on tyres, after Gasly started the race in softs, to catch and pressure his team-mate late in the Austin race, but was told repeatedly to hold position.
He ignored this and dived past Gasly into the first corner at the start of lap 54 of 56.
“We had quite a bit more pace than Pierre in the last stint,” said Colapinto when asked by The Race. “And had Bortoleto really close behind, attacking very hard.
“He was much quicker than us and it was holding me up with how slow Pierre was going.
“I think it was the best for the situation to have me in front.”
But despite ending in a better result for Alpine, as Colapinto was able to stay ahead of Bortoleto after passing Gasly, it is understood that Colapinto’s actions were not well received and he was told by Alpine management what he did was not correct.
The instruction to hold position was slightly bizarre given the two cars were running 17th and 18th, although the pair had Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto close behind as well so Alpine was fighting to avoid finishing last.
But the real issue was race leader Max Verstappen closing in to lap them.
As Verstappen only caught the backmarkers at the very end of the grand prix, there was uncertainty over whether the Alpines would actually be lapped – as has been the case in the last three races – or would need to complete the full race distance.
Colapinto was given multiple lift-and-coast messages in the final 20 minutes or so of the race, and instructed that both cars were managing, as Alpine could not be sure and needed to make sure they could complete the 56th lap if necessary.
Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen said “any instruction made by the pit wall is final and today we are disappointed that this didn't happen so it's something we will review and deal with internally”.
Colapinto is seeking to cement his Alpine seat on a full-time basis into 2026 after replacing Jack Doohan earlier this year.
Asked by The Race about needing to prove himself in his situation, and finding motivation in moments like a stronger final stint after a tough weekend, Colapinto replied: “I am motivated. We know that the car is tough to drive and it's very difficult at the moment.
“We swapped positions a lot of times this year and they also let us race in other tracks.
“Here for this event, I was attacked very heavily by Bortoletto. It was probably the best to have me in front, otherwise we were going to get both overtaken.”
Gasly would not discuss the incident as he said it was not right to “release the frustration” publicly and would be reviewed internally.
He was more frustrated by another poor weekend for the team that is last in the championship and “just too slow”.
“I'm not happy about this race,” he said.
“I'm disappointed by the whole performance and starting on the soft.”
