Briatore Warns Colapinto After Costly Baku Collision with Gasly

Franco Colapinto's tenure at Alpine has hit a severe turbulence after a catastrophic error at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. During a Safety Car restart, the Argentinian driver braked far too late, colliding with teammate Pierre Gasly and resulting in a double DNF for the Enstone-based squad. The incident not only wiped out a potential double-points finish but has sparked a rare and public outburst from team boss Flavio Briatore.

Why it matters:

In the high-stakes environment of the 2026 season, teammate collisions are the ultimate sin, especially for a team fighting for mid-field supremacy. For Colapinto, the stakes are personal; Briatore was the architect of his return to the grid in 2025. This failure of judgment undermines the trust placed in the young driver and jeopardizes Alpine's momentum in a season where every single point is critical for their standing.

The Details:

• The Incident: Colapinto misjudged the braking zone during the restart, taking out Gasly while both cars were in scoring positions (7th and 10th).
• The Fallout: While Colapinto accepted full responsibility, Briatore labeled the move a "very weak maneuver" for a driver of his experience.
• Official Sanction: Race stewards imposed a 10-second penalty, which converts to a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.
• Driver Form: Despite the crash, Colapinto has been competitive in 2026, securing eight points-scoring finishes and sitting just 14 points behind Gasly in the standings.

The Big Picture:

This result is a tactical disaster for Alpine in their battle against Racing Bulls for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. While Alpine walked away with zero points, Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad finished seventh. This swing has extended Racing Bulls' lead over Alpine to 15 points, shifting the momentum of the mid-field battle at a critical juncture of the season.

What's next:

Colapinto heads to Malaysia with a grid handicap and the looming threat of internal disciplinary action. Briatore has explicitly stated he is considering "consequences" beyond the stewards' penalty to ensure such an error is not repeated. The coming weeks will determine if Colapinto can rebuild his relationship with the Alpine leadership or if this mistake will trigger a shift in the team's driver strategy.