Franco Colapinto almost reached the podium at the Italian Grand Prix, only to lose it in a single mistake on the Lesmo corner. The Alpine driver began the race in seventh, climbed two places before the start, and briefly joined the top‑three pack after overtaking Oscar Piastri. A red‑flag interruption clouded the moment, and Colapinto was forced to re‑start from fourth in the shuffled grid.
From the Start to the Front
During the initial getaway, a collision involving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sent the latter into a spin, allowing Colapinto to leap from seventh to fourth. At the second lap, Leclerc spun again, giving the Alpine the chance to overtake Piastri. The tactic paid off, and Colapinto sat in the heart of the lead group, watching Max Verstappen push hard through the circuit.
A Brief Breakaway
In the second start, Colapinto made a clean move past Verstappen into the first chicane, reaching third place before Verstappen immediately retook the spot on the descent to the Variante della Roggia. Moments later, he lost control entering Lesmo, fell into gravel, and slid to sixteenth, losing the points and the hard‑earned position.
Frustration Revealed
Colapinto admitted the crash was a “big mistake” that robbed both him and Alpine of “a very important opportunity.” “I think I missed a very important opportunity for the team and for myself, so I am a bit sad about that,” he said, describing the loss of momentum and the subsequent repairs that allowed the car to finish ninth.
Team Perspective and Future Goals
Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly echoed his frustration, noting the difficulty of sustaining a podium fight against the top teams. “We should have scored more points, and I hope we do better in Madrid,” he said, emphasizing the need for continued improvement.
Measuring the Moment Against Verstappen
When asked how the fleeting pass on Verstappen felt, Colapinto kept a measured tone, acknowledging that “being side‑by‑side with the front‑row cars is cool, but missing the chance to capitalize on it is painful.” He added that fighting alongside world‑champion drivers remains a learning experience.
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