Franco Colapinto has vowed to follow Alpine team orders “no matter what” after disobeying a command not to pass Pierre Gasly in Formula 1‘s United States Grand Prix.
The Anglo-French marque’s 2025 hit a disappointing low after both its drivers finished outside the points for a fourth consecutive race weekend at Austin, last Sunday.
Colapinto, who is yet to score a point for the Enstone-based squad, was embroiled in an intense game of cat-and-mouse with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto during the 56-lap race.
Eager not to be classified last, the Argentinian driver mounted an onslaught on his team-mate instead, who was the car ahead and struggling with his tyres and fuel.
With only a couple of laps to go, the Alpine pit wall instructed the 22-year-old to hold position. That said, this command fell on deaf ears as Colapinto made the move on Gasly.
Following the race, Colapinto defended his decision to ignore team orders to media including Motorsport Week.
“I just had quite a bit more pace than Pierre in the last stint and had Bortoleto really close behind, attacking very hard, and he was much quicker than us,” he had asserted.
“I just couldn’t really help with how slow Pierre was going, so I think it was the best for the situation to have me in front and try not to get both cars behind.
“They let us race in other tracks; I think here for the situation I was in – I was attacked very heavily by Bortoleto – it was probably the best to have me in front.
“Otherwise, we were going to get both overtaken. We just need [to] come with all the data and analyse every moment of the race.”
Colapinto issues clarity with respect to team orders situation
13 races into his F1 career, the Argentine is fighting hard to keep his seat. Naturally, this blatant act of defiance would not have gone in the favour of the 22-year-old.
It would appear that Colapinto has received a private dressing down by Alpine, which, on the cusp of the Mexico City Grand Prix, has seemingly changed his stance.
The former Williams driver was quick to renege on his defiance and instead has categorically insisted that team orders at Alpine will always be respected going forward.
“The team situation on Sunday has been discussed internally,” he revealed.
“It is clear that instructions by the team must always be followed no matter what.
“We are all together, and we are all working towards the same goal to keep getting better with each session and each race weekend.”
READ MORE – Alpine to review Franco Colapinto’s call to overrule team order during F1 US GP
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