F1 | Franco Colapinto accuses Lance Stroll: “Always pushing others out”. After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto criticizes Lance Stroll for a first-lap incident.

A first-lap collision between Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto sparked the anger of Franco Colapinto in Brazil, with the Alpine driver openly criticizing the Aston Martin racer. Colapinto accused Stroll of being “always involved in incidents” following the contact that eliminated Bortoleto from the race.

The incident occurred on the opening lap at Interlagos, specifically at Turn 10. Gabriel Bortoleto, who had started from the back of the grid after being unable to participate in qualifying due to a crash in the Sprint race, made a slight contact with Stroll’s car while attempting an outside overtaking maneuver. Although the impact seemed minor, it unsettled the Brazilian driver’s Sauber, sending him into the barriers and forcing an immediate retirement.

Colapinto’s reaction

In the post-race interview, Colapinto did not hide his frustration, placing the blame squarely on the Canadian driver: “Stroll is always pushing people out, he never checks his mirrors. He put Gabriel [Bortoleto] into the wall; this is what he does every time.” His words reflect the tension of a challenging weekend for several young drivers.

Bortoleto’s perspective

Gabriel Bortoleto appeared more measured in his comments. Despite his disappointment at the second race-ending incident of the weekend, the Brazilian avoided a confrontational tone: “I don’t want to point fingers at anyone. It was just a normal racing incident. He left less space than necessary, but I was on the outside and the risk was always there. It’s a shame because I think we had a good pace today.”

The race stewards did not assign any penalties, classifying the collision as a “racing incident.” Nevertheless, Colapinto’s remarks shine a spotlight on Stroll’s driving style, which has been criticized in similar situations in the past.

For Lance Stroll, the contact with Gabriel Bortoleto adds another challenging chapter to a season marked by errors and internal tensions at Aston Martin. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto are left frustrated after a weekend where raw speed was not enough to avoid the chaos of the opening corner at Interlagos.