Franco Colapinto and a dark weekend at the British GP: a car that won't start and Briatore's dangerous approach with Toto Wolff

Franco Colapinto had his worst weekend since joining the Alpine Formula 1 team, as he couldn't even start due to an apparent gearbox issue . "The same as in Barcelona," the Argentine reported when he was unable to leave his own pit, a position he was supposed to take after the team changed some engine components.

The 22-year-old's face reflected his frustration: " It's a shame that these things are happening to us , after a good weekend in which I had found a good rhythm overall."

Colapinto thus suffered his first retirement after six races with the French team and his first since the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he closed the season aboard the Williams.

This situation comes amid rumors swirling about the Argentine's future and the apparent interest in Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-Benz's reserve driver, to join the Alpine team. In fact, Toto Wolff, the German team's principal, met with Flavio Briatore, the French team's top boss.

#BritishGP Disappointment. The moment Colapinto stops in the pits to change tires, the car stalls. It seems a gearbox problem.

"Something's broken, what the fuck? MY GOD, it's the same as in Barcelona, ​​it's the same." #Colapinto pic.twitter.com/N3uvGNhwiV

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Hours later, Wolff confirmed that the approach was linked to inquiries about Bottas . “Briatore contacted me several times” to discuss the Finn, the Austrian told Dutch outlet Viaplay. He added: “ Just today (Saturday) I spoke to him about Valtteri .” He acknowledged: “It seems there is an accelerated interest in Valtteri.”

In contrast, Pierre Gasly, the French team's other driver, had a good race and returned to the points, becoming the only Alpine driver to finish in the championship so far. Nevertheless, Colapinto's team remains at the bottom of the constructors' standings.

The race, which was marked by rain at various times on the Silverstone circuit, was won by Briton Lando Norris and his McLaren, cheered by the British fans. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, finished second, and German Nico Hulkenberg finished third, in an epic comeback, having been last on the grid at the start.

The weekend hadn't gotten off to a bad start for the Argentinian, showing improvements in his times every time he went out on track and placing himself ahead of his teammate, Pierre Gasly. But then came qualifying, and that's when everything began to fall apart.

The mistake during the second flying lap was a hard blow that the Argentine didn't hide . "I lost my way coming out of the corner. A mistake. A shame. So obviously sad about this result," said the visibly saddened Argentine as soon as he arrived in the paddock and faced the first microphones. "I spun coming out of the last corner, hit the kerb, and lost the car in a pretty aggressive way," he explained. This forced him to start last on the grid .

Faced with this situation, Briatore was clear in a subsequent official statement : "Franco knows he made a mistake and that he must improve to recover and come back stronger tomorrow."

Clarín learned that on Saturday, after qualifying, there was a meeting with Colapinto, where the Argentine received support from the experienced man who managed Benetton when Michael Schumacher was champion and also Renault when Fernando Alonso was crowned champion.

In the middle of the race, the team decided to replace some components in the power unit, which, by regulation, forced Colapinto to start from the pit lane . Something that ultimately didn't happen.

The day had started rainy at Silverstone, with heavy rainfall on Sunday morning. But the bad weather extended beyond the forecast, and the race got underway on wet roads. All competitors, including Colapinto, started the pre-race lap on intermediate rain tires.

"WE CHANGED THE ENTIRE POWER UNIT, THAT'S WHY I STARTED FROM THE PIT WAY TO AVOID PENALTIES," said Franco Colapinto before the race at Silverstone.

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When the Argentine re-entered the pit lane to take his starting position, he braked in his garage to change to hard slick tires, seeking a strategic move, something other drivers also did, that would allow him to climb positions later. But he didn't get out of there. The Alpine 43 didn't move again .

"The truth is, I have no idea. I couldn't get out of the pits. They're still investigating," Colapinto said when he spoke to the press. Nearly five hours after the race, the French team simply stated that "Franco had a transmission problem."

The Argentine lamented what happened because he also believed he had a good chance. "It's a shame. It was a good race to race. Considering everything that happened with the rain and the tire changes, plus the changing weather, I was faster than Pierre, and seeing where he's finishing, maybe we had a chance. Tracks I like and enjoy driving will come up. We'll have to see what we can do."

That opportunity was demonstrated by the fact that Hulkenberg, who started from 19th position, made it to the top step of the podium , and that Aston Martin's Canadian Lance Stroll, who started from 18th position, finished seventh.

There are now just over two weeks until the action kicks off at the Belgian Grand Prix on the legendary Spa Francochamps circuit. Much will be written in the coming days about Franco Colapinto's situation at Alpine, in what is known as the Silly Season. But the reality is that the Argentine must turn the current situation around and find a way to get his Alpine team performing and earn his first points of the season.