P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Franco Colapinto will start the Qatar Grand Prix from the pitlane after changes were made to his Alpine car without FIA permission.
Franco Colapinto will start the Qatar Grand Prix from the pitlane due to unauthorized changes made to his Alpine car. The FIA penalized him for changing the suspension without permission, leading to the pit-lane start according to sporting regulations. Despite his penalty, with Colapinto qualifying last, the impact on his race day is expected to be minimal. The adjustments made by Alpine could potentially improve the 22-year-old driver’s car performance, possibly being beneficial in the long run. While confirmed to drive for Alpine in 2026, Colapinto has had a challenging season compared to teammate Gasly, who has scored all points for the team. Alpine is optimistic about Colapinto’s potential, showing patience and expecting progress from the Argentine driver. Franco’s development and progress will continue to be monitored, as he aims to close the gap with Gasly and improve his performance in the upcoming seasons.
