Franco Colapinto taps Monza data to drive Spanish GP success
Franco Colapinto used insights gained from Pierre Gasly’s dominant qualifying run at Monza to stage a seventh‑place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, the fastest lap he has completed in the last 24 hours.
Monza lessons: a gap that grew too wide
During Thursday’s session, Colapinto sat fourth in Q1, a mere 0.050 seconds behind Gasly. As the lap times steeper, the difference expanded—Gasly was three tenths faster in Q2 and four tenths ahead in Q3. “Pierre stayed quick throughout, improving each lap as I fell behind,” Colapinto noted.
He returned to the pit wall with the full data package, looking for patterns in Gasly’s lap progression and the way the Alpine driver managed the car’s energy across each stage.
Madrid execution: an improved pace pays off
The week later, Colapinto eclipsed his teammate’s times through the entirety of qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, reaching Q3 after a brief retirement in Q2 caused by a mistake at La Monumental corner.
“Madrid qualifying was one of the best I’ve done—perfect laps that got me into Q3,” he reflected. “The Audis and RBs are fierce here, but I stayed ahead and earned a solid race start.”
Learning from experience: driving and energy mastery
Colapinto stressed that Gasly’s experience was a key factor. “His steps were clear—driving line, braking point, energy use— from one run to the next. I took that into my own margin.”
He said he “ticked everything” after Monza, re‑examining launch control, gear changes, and power‑band limitations to maximise output for Q2 and Q3 at Madrid, and he saw the payoff in the race.
Points on paint, not drama
Maintaining position through the race, Colapinto extracted a multitude of points and keenly praised the balance achieved after Monza’s lessons. “Once again it’s positive, and I feel confident about the pace moving forward,” he added.
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