P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Franco Colapinto’s first day back in F1 featured a surprising amount of wheel to wheel racing in practice and a radio complaint from Max Verstappen
Franco Colapinto’s first day on-track as an Alpine Formula 1 driver was eventful, as he had to fend off McLarens, George Russell, and a puzzled Max Verstappen during practice at Imola. Despite teammate Pierre Gasly’s strong performance, Colapinto found himself fighting off a train of cars during high-fuel work in FP2. He defended his position well, using DRS and even holding off attacks into corners. Verstappen was notably confused by Colapinto’s tactics, questioning his use of DRS in certain situations. Colapinto’s race engineer instructed him to hold his position and use DRS, leading to a challenging but ultimately beneficial learning experience. Although the defensive driving affected his long run pace, it showcased Colapinto’s determination and racecraft skills in a competitive field.
