Colapinto Seeks Breakthrough at Canadian GP Amid Struggles with Alpine
Franco Colapinto is gearing up for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, expressing hopes for a turnaround after a challenging start to his season with Alpine. Following his mid-season entry replacing Jack Doohan, Colapinto has yet to demonstrate a significant performance improvement, with disappointing results in his first three races.
After a crash in qualifying at Imola, Colapinto’s next outings saw him finish 15th in Spain, indicating a struggle to find pace in the 2025 car. Acting team principal Flavio Briatore has noted that Colapinto’s performance will be evaluated on a race-by-race basis as the team considers its future lineup alongside Pierre Gasly.
Reflecting on the past races, Colapinto stated, "They were tough… I was expecting to make a bit more progress after Imola, but it’s always tricky to return to F1 after a six-race absence." He emphasized the learning curve involved with Alpine, highlighting significant differences compared to his prior stint with Williams.
Following the recent race in Barcelona, where issues with the setup hampered his performance, Colapinto has spent substantial time at the team’s Enstone factory, collaborating with engineers to identify and address shortcomings. "I felt out of phase with everything… Once we understood that, it made much more sense to me," he explained. Colapinto approaches the Canadian GP with renewed confidence, aiming for a strong showing after a thorough review of his performance.
As expectations hang in the balance, the upcoming race will be crucial for Colapinto’s prospects in F1.
