Alpine have lost both of their points finishes at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix after Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly received post-race penalties for failing to slow under yellow flags. The FIA decisions dropped the two drivers to 15th and 17th respectively, allowing Haas newcomer Ryo Hirakawa to claim 10th place and score his first Formula 1 point on his Grand Prix debut.
The penalties significantly reshuffled the final classification at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, turning what had initially appeared to be a positive result for Alpine into a disappointing afternoon. For Ryo Hirakawa, however, the revised finishing order provided an unexpected reward after the Japanese driver was called up by Haas to replace Esteban Ocon.
Mexico GP penalties: Alpine drivers lose points after yellow flag infringements
Race Control had a particularly busy afternoon during the Mexico City Grand Prix, with several incidents requiring the attention of the FIA stewards. Their work began as early as the opening lap, when they examined Charles Leclerc’s return to the circuit after cutting a corner, as well as the contact between Isack Hadjar and George Russell.
Those incidents were followed by further investigations throughout the Grand Prix, but some of the most significant decisions were only confirmed after the chequered flag. The resulting penalties changed the final classification and removed several drivers from the points-paying positions.
Oscar Piastri, who crossed the finish line in seventh place, was handed a 10-second penalty following an incident involving Isack Hadjar. However, the consequences were particularly costly for Alpine, whose drivers had initially appeared to secure a double points finish.
Franco Colapinto finished eighth on the road, while team-mate Pierre Gasly crossed the line in 10th. Both were subsequently penalised after failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flag conditions, causing them to fall outside the top 10.
The Argentine driver was classified 15th following the application of his penalty, while the Frenchman dropped to 17th. As a result, neither Alpine driver retained the points they had appeared to earn during the race.
Alpine suffer costly setback in Constructors’ Championship battle
The revised Mexico City Grand Prix results represented a significant blow for Alpine, both in terms of the drivers’ finishing positions and the team’s Constructors’ Championship ambitions.
With both cars dropping out of the points, Alpine lost further ground to Racing Bulls in the battle for fifth place in the championship standings. The setback was made even more damaging by Liam Lawson’s seventh-place finish, which provided Racing Bulls with valuable points in the same contest.
Instead of celebrating two top-10 results, Alpine left Mexico City without any additional points from the race. The penalties therefore had consequences extending beyond the individual classifications of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, affecting the wider championship battle between the teams.
The updated positions also reshaped the lower end of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, with several competitors benefiting from the penalties imposed after the finish.
Ryo Hirakawa scores first F1 point on debut for Haas
While Alpine suffered a double setback, the post-race decisions produced a particularly welcome outcome for Ryo Hirakawa. The 32-year-old Japanese driver, who had been called up by Haas to take part in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, ultimately made his Formula 1 race debut after replacing Esteban Ocon.
Esteban Ocon did not participate in the Grand Prix following disagreements with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. That development opened the door for Ryo Hirakawa, who was unexpectedly given the opportunity to compete in his first Formula 1 race.
His performance, combined with the penalties handed to other drivers, allowed him to move into the final points-paying position. The Japanese driver was eventually classified 10th, earning one point for Haas in his first Grand Prix appearance.
What initially looked like a difficult outcome for Alpine therefore became a memorable result for Ryo Hirakawa. The post-race penalties transformed the final classification, leaving the French team empty-handed while rewarding the Haas debutant with his first Formula 1 championship point.
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