Franco Colapinto, in Baku: “You have to know how to control external noise”
The Argentine arrives at the Azerbaijan GP, 17th F1 date, with his future in Alpine in doubt and wrapped in rumors that he wants to keep away.
The streets of Baku are special for Franco Colapinteither. It was there that he first arrived at an Q3 in F1 and the place in the baptism in the points zone. Everything happened in the Azerbaijan GP of 2024, its second competition in the World Cup with Williams. Time passed and the Argentine is back on the track, but in another context. Suffering with Alpine’s A525, the weakest car of the category, and wrapped in rumors about its uncertain future. Flavio Briatore, the strong man of the Estone team, criticized him hard in Zandvoort, during the Netherlands GP and a week later he pampered him in Monza. There is something that the Italian made clear: at the end of October it will be announced to Pierre Gasly’s partner by 2026.
Meanwhile, Colapinto lives with the noise generated around it. It is that, beyond the weak performance of the car, the Buenos Aires had a very difficult beginning, without confidence in the car and with a walk without consistency, beyond some sparks. Personal improvement came from Hungary. In the last three competitions, Franco had convincing actions, within the context of what allows the enclosure of the team. But he found confidence in the car, consistency and parity with Gasly.
Already in Baku, the Argentine spoke with AM850 about that runrún about his future: “You cannot control what happens around. That external noise is not greatly influencing me. You have to know how to control it. There are many expectations and people who want me to do well and when it does not come out, there are criticisms. We are trying to do the best to improve. We are not in the position we want, we do not add points and we are last, it is not a good year. But personally, the important thing is to continue improved with the car and be more consistent and I am gradually finding it. Better circuits will come, with this long line it will cost this weekend, ”he said.
Azerbaijan’s challenge appears as a difficult company for Alpine. The urban layout designed by Hermann Tilke is located in the heart of the city and has 20 curves (12 to the left and eight, to the right). The main line is 2,200 meters of extension and speeds are reached that touch the 350 km/h. Just the Alpine Achilles heel: the speed due to the lack of motor power and the delay in the battery recharge For the electric driver. The 6,003 meters layout is completed with a technical and narrow zone that has as its narrower point the eighth curve, that of the castle, with 7.60 meters wide (it is traveled to 86 km/h).
“It was very positive to walk so well last year in a circuit like Baku, of the most complicated calendar, it was very good for my future. Happy to be back here, you have to see what happens this weekend. It will be more difficult than last year in terms of performance by the long straight line. Our car is not the best and in a street with many potholes, the car is very hard and not copy them well. We will try to find the details and maximize the opportunities that appear, ”Colapinto closed.
