Franco Colapinto has shouldered the blame and offered a full apology to team-mate Pierre Gasly and Alpine after a costly braking error wiped out both cars during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Before the disaster struck, Alpine were sitting pretty on the streets of Baku and marching toward a valuable double points finish in the 51-lap race. Gasly held P7 while Colapinto ran in P10 as the safety car neutralized the field in the final third of proceedings following a crash by Alex Albon.
I don't think I really have words and I don't need the words now,
As the race resumed and the cars bunched up heading into Turn 1, Colapinto misjudged his braking zone and locked his tyres. Moving to the inside, he swiped the side of Gasly's car right on the apex, sending both machines spinning to the outside of the circuit and collecting Lando Norris' McLaren in the collateral damage. All three drivers were immediately eliminated from the contest.
"Just bit of disappointment, for myself, for the team. Just a big sorry to all of them, to the factory, to Pierre of course," Colapinto said when addressing the incident. He added that he took his team-mate out and committed a major mistake when both were positioned to score points, noting he was locking up and completely out of control with little left he could do.
The fallout hit Alpine hard in the constructors' standings. The team had been on course to slash a nine-point gap to Racing Bulls for fifth place, but instead fell six points further adrift as Arvid Lindblad finished seventh. Further back, that same rookie also collided with team-mate Liam Lawson at the time of the Alpine shunt, though stewards ultimately took no further action on that clash.
Gasly cut a visibly frustrated figure when asked for his verdict on the collision. "I don't think I really have words and I don't need the words now," Gasly said. He confirmed they would manage the situation together as a team while expressing deep disappointment for the crew after showing strong pace in P7 and P10.
