Franco Colapinto has learned the outcome of the FIA’s judgement on his role in the three-car collision at the restart of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Argentinian made an ambitious attempt to divebomb teammate Pierre Gasly after George Russell led away the restarted race after a Safety Car period at the Baku City Circuit.
But the Alpine’s cold tyres and lack of realism in Colapinto’s manoeuvre saw him career into the side of the sister Alpine, which in turn took out Lando Norris. All three men retired as a result.
After the race, Colapinto offered a full and frank apology to both men, with Norris calling for him to receive a one-race ban for it.
Colapinto, who has shown much improvement across the season as a whole – resulting in a confirmed second season with the Enstone-based squad – admitted to media that he was expecting a penalty.
And after an investigation by stewards, a 10-second time penalty was the result, converted into a grid penalty given he retired from the race.
“The Stewards considered that COL was wholly or predominantly to blame for the collision,” the stewards’ document read. “Although the incident occurred at the first corner following the restart, there was no contribution from another driver which would justify applying the first-lap / firstcorner more linient approach.
“The standard penalty for causing a collision is a 10-second time penalty. As COL had retired from the Race and was therefore unable to serve the time penalty, the Stewards converted the penalty to a drop of 5 grid positions at the next Race in which the driver participates in accordance which Article B1.9.6.(e) of the FIA FIA 2026 F1 Regulations.”
The manoeuvre had further ramifications for Alpine, as the possibility of a double-points finish turned into none, with midfield rivals Racing Bulls and Haas picking up more as a result.
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