F1 | Briatore show in DtS against Colapinto: “You made a mistake and I made it too”
Flavio Briatore is making headlines in the latest season of Drive to Survive: his outburst against Franco Colapinto following the Imola crash has already gone viral. Alpine’s executive consultant did not hold back on the young Argentine driver, who caused an incident during his first official race weekend. Apologies alone were not enough — what matters is avoiding damage: “If you make a mistake, I made it too.”
Drive to Survive fans already have a new favorite. After the verbal clashes between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner in previous seasons, this year the spotlight is on Flavio Briatore. Returning to F1 as Alpine’s executive consultant, the Italian manager immediately took charge of the team, making some controversial decisions, including the replacement of rookie Jack Doohan after just six races.
This “brutal” decision, according to many insiders, opened the door for Franco Colapinto to return after being sidelined following his 2024 stint at Williams. Considered to have higher potential than Jack Doohan, the Argentine driver, however, arrived at his comeback weekend in Imola with a nasty crash — his first since returning to the F1 Circus.
Briatore confronts Colapinto: “These things shouldn’t happen”
The behind-the-scenes drama at Alpine is revealed in the new season of Drive to Survive on Netflix. Flavio Briatore’s reaction to witnessing the crash from the garage is sharp: “Unbelievable… really unbelievable.” When Franco Colapinto apologizes, Briatore’s reply is immediate: “Yes, it’s fine that you’re apologizing, but you shouldn’t be making this kind of mistake.”
“I made a mistake,” the Argentine admits in Italian, but it isn’t enough to calm his boss. Flavio Briatore responds firmly: “I know it’s your mistake, but if you break the car, it’s my mistake too.”
The Italian manager’s unfiltered approach in the Alpine garage is a stark departure from the corporate-friendly diplomacy often seen in modern Formula 1. By telling Colapinto that a driver’s mistake is ultimately a failure for the leadership that put him there, Flavio Briatore is highlighting the immense pressure that comes with the “meritocratic” culture he has re-introduced to Enstone. While Netflix often thrives on these high-tension moments, for Colapinto, the exchange serves as a cold reminder that in Briatore’s world, potential is measured in points and intact carbon fiber, not just apologies. As Alpine is ready for the 2026 Formula 1 season, this “tough love” dynamic will either forge Colapinto into a top-tier contender or become the focal point of the team’s internal friction.
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