Franco Colapinto: “Flavio Briatore made me stronger mentally”

Alpine’s Argentine gave an interview in the Podcast Beyond the Grid and talked about the hardness of the Italian, how complicated he was getting used to the A525 and the relationship with his partner, Pierre Gasly.

During the past GP of Azerbaijan, the 17th date of exercise 2025, Franco Colapint. There, the Argentine pilot who runs in the Alpine quality spoke of several songs, from his relationship with Flavio Briatore, the mandamás of the Estone team to the relationship with his teammate.

COLAPINTO AND FLAVIO BRIATORE

“I have a very good relationship with Flavio. Yes, it is hard with everyone and has its way of making the team work and how it motivates people. It is true that sometimes it can be a bit strong, it may even seem excessive if they do not know him. But I really trust him and I think he will take the team to fight forward. I learned a lot about him this year. It made me much stronger mentally and I am very grateful for the opportunity that gave me and for the process we are going through. ”

The difference between Williams and Alpine

“When I debuted in Alpine, I got on a car that was already developed and had been handled by many pilots, but not by me, I had not done tests. I had no participation in development and I was not as I would like. The car was more focused on how other pilots handle, such as Pierre and Esteba Ocon or Fernando Alonso in the past. The team has had a structure and way of working that has not really been adapted to me “.

“In Williams he also did not have previous tests and went directly to run. But I had been driving the simulator more than a year, understanding engineers, seeing the changes they made in the car, the problems he had, how they wanted me to work … in Alpine it was more like getting to a new team, a new car, having the experience of a car that had already driven before. That experience also brings me things that I want to have, but I can’t have. Up to a new formula 1 and handle it for the first time, it is more complicated, but at the same time you have no comparison or previous experience of what you want from the car. There are things that the car cannot give you. It took me more time to adapt than with Williams. “

Your relationship with Pierre Gasly

“Pierre is the team leader. I learned everything from Alex in Williams and I am learning everything from Pierre in Alpine. He drives the team; He has signed a multiannual contract. It is the one who develops the car; Know every detail. “Pierre is the leader of the team and is my partner. I learn from him as happened with Alex Albon last year. He is the pilot one of the team, extended his contract for several more years. He is the one who pushes the team and the one who develops the car, knows all the details. In my case, there are many areas that I still learn from the car. We are working with the limitations we have.”

“With Pierre we do not play paddle because I am very good, haha. He is a great person with whom I had a good relationship last year, when I was in Williams and we didn’t share a team. I enjoy working together “.