Alpine Formula 1 team principal Flavio Briatore has declared that the team has moved on from the disastrous Azerbaijan Grand Prix and is fully focused on this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. The Baku incident saw Franco Colapinto lock up and collide with teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris at a safety car restart, eliminating both Alpines and costing the team crucial points in their battle with Racing Bulls for fifth in the Constructors' Championship.
Briatore expressed his disappointment at the time but stressed that the matter is now closed. "Sure, I was very disappointed when it happened in Baku, but it's another race. Everybody forgets," he said in the Team Principals' Press Conference. "We need to keep looking always for the future, and the past is the past, and nothing can be done." He added that the team, including Colapinto, felt the pain of the mistake, but it's time to move forward.
Impact on Constructors' Standings
Alpine is currently locked in a tight battle with Racing Bulls for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. The loss of points in Baku was a significant setback, as both cars had the pace to finish in the points. Briatore acknowledged the cost but remained pragmatic: "We give away a lot of points. After that, it's finito. What can we do? Whatever we've done, it's impossible to come back."
Despite moving on, Briatore voiced his frustration over the stewards' decision not to penalize Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad for a similar incident involving Liam Lawson. "Coming back to Baku, something I really, really don't understand is this: we were penalised, and we deserve to be penalised. I don't understand why Racing Bull was not penalised, because Lindblad had done exactly the same to Lawson. Why were we penalised and Lindblad was not penalised?" he questioned. This highlights an ongoing concern about consistency in officiating.
Alpine now heads to Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix, hoping for a drama-free weekend to secure maximum points and keep their championship hopes alive. With focus shifted, Briatore and the team are determined to deliver a solid performance.
The competition on track is fierce, and every point counts. Alpine cannot afford further losses if they are to hold onto fifth place. Therefore, qualifying and the race in Sepang will be a mental and technical test for the team.
Briatore is known for his no-nonsense approach, but his "past is the past" comment signals a desire to keep the team united and motivated. With the season still long, Alpine has opportunities to recover, provided they avoid unnecessary errors.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be a proving ground for Alpine and Pierre Gasly and Colapinto to demonstrate they can race cleanly and competitively. All eyes will be on how the team manages pressure and whether they can turn the page on Baku.
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