Alpine Denies 'Sabotage' Claims Against Colapinto

Alpine has issued a firm public statement shutting down speculation that it is deliberately sabotaging driver Franco Colapinto's car or treating him unequally compared to teammate Pierre Gasly. The team emphasized its commitment to both drivers having equal footing, attributing their performance gap to on-track circumstances rather than any internal bias.

Why it matters:

In Formula 1, where trust between driver and team is fundamental, public accusations of sabotage are corrosive and can destabilize a team's internal dynamics. Alpine's proactive denial aims to quell a growing narrative that could damage team morale, distract from its on-track progress, and unfairly impact the reputation of a promising rookie driver.

The Details:

• The statement comes amid a significant points disparity, with Pierre Gasly scoring 15 of the team's 16 points this season, including a strong drive to hold off Max Verstappen in Japan.
• Alpine explicitly called claims of sabotage "completely unfounded," stating it felt compelled to speak out publicly to address the rumors directly.
• The team affirmed that both Colapinto and Gasly operate with equal equipment and support, noting that any staggered introduction of car upgrades—a common practice in F1—would be communicated transparently.
• Alpine also defended Colapinto against online abuse following his recent on-track incident with Oliver Bearman, reiterating that the FIA reviewed the event and took no further action.

What's next:

Alpine, currently tied on points with Red Bull for fifth in the Constructors' Championship, must now focus on converting its promising pace—claiming to be the fourth-fastest car recently—into consistent double-points finishes. The team's immediate challenge is to support Colapinto in bridging the performance gap to Gasly on merit, proving its stated principles of equality through results and silencing the speculation for good.