P1racenews AI automatic summary:
On shaky ground at Alpine, Franco Colapinto responded to Flavio Briatore’s public criticism with probably his most convincing weekend of the year
Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 future was in doubt early in the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, but after a strong race on Sunday, de facto Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore praised his performance as “very good, probably his strongest this season so far.”
Although Colapinto finished 11th, narrowly behind Esteban Ocon, it marked his closest chance to scoring points in the nine events he has contested for Alpine since joining in May.
His performance at Zandvoort kickstarted a crucial series of races that will determine his future in F1, with impressing Briatore being a key factor.
Despite being eliminated in Q1 and the race not going as planned, Colapinto showcased promising speed and potential for future improvement, with Briatore stressing the importance of delivering consistent results.
Colapinto faced challenges during the race, including traffic affecting his qualifying lap and struggling with tire wear, but showed resilience and determination.
Moving forward, Colapinto will need to focus on meeting Briatore’s expectations and consistently delivering strong performances to secure his place in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
