Colapinto Defies Alpine Team Orders in US Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto ignored repeated team orders to stay behind Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly during the final laps of the United States Grand Prix, sparking an internal review by the team. Despite the controversial move, Colapinto argued it was necessary to defend their position against a charging Gabriel Bortoleto.

Why it matters:

Colapinto's insubordination, even for 17th place, highlights potential internal friction within Alpine at a challenging time for the team. It also underscores the complexity of team orders, especially when strategic nuances like managing laps down to the leader come into play, and a driver's personal ambition to secure a full-time seat.

The Details:

• Defiance on Track: Colapinto, on fresher tires, caught Gasly late in the Austin race and was explicitly told to hold position multiple times. He disregarded these instructions, passing Gasly into Turn 1 on lap 54 of 56.
• Colapinto's Justification: He claimed Gasly's slower pace was holding him up, and with Bortoleto attacking aggressively, moving ahead was "the best for the situation" to prevent both Alpines from being overtaken.
• Team Reaction: Alpine management reportedly disapproved of Colapinto's actions, despite him successfully holding off Bortoleto after the pass. Managing Director Steve Nielsen stated, "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."
• Unusual Context: The team orders were unusual given the cars were battling for 17th and 18th place. However, the primary concern for Alpine was managing their position relative to race leader Max Verstappen, who was closing in to lap them. The team needed both drivers to manage fuel and conserve to potentially complete the full race distance if Verstappen didn't lap them.
  • Colapinto received multiple 'lift-and-coast' messages, indicating the team's uncertainty about being lapped and the need to ensure both cars could finish.
• Driver Ambition: Colapinto is keen to secure a full-time Alpine seat for 2026, having replaced Jack Doohan earlier this year. His aggressive move could be seen as an attempt to demonstrate his racing prowess, even if it goes against team directives.
• Gasly's Frustration: Gasly declined to discuss the incident publicly, stating it would be reviewed internally. He expressed overall disappointment with the team's performance, calling the car "too slow" and lamenting another poor weekend for the last-placed constructor.

Between the lines:

This incident reveals the tightrope young drivers walk: balancing team loyalty with the drive to prove themselves. While Colapinto's aggressive move might have secured a slightly better finishing position for Alpine on paper, the team's strong reaction suggests that maintaining internal discipline and adhering to strategic instructions, especially in complex race scenarios, often takes precedence over individual on-track heroics, particularly at the back of the grid.

What's next:

Alpine is set to conduct an internal review of the incident, which could have implications for Colapinto's future with the team. This event adds another layer to Alpine's challenging season, as they continue to struggle with performance and now face questions about team cohesion and driver discipline.