Franco Colapinto defies team orders, Alpine furious: “We are disappointed and will discuss internally”. Alpine is frustrated after Franco Colapinto ignored team orders at the 2025 Austin GP.

Tensions rise at Enstone amid a disastrous 2025 Formula 1 season for Alpine.

Team orders ignored

Finishing last in both the race and the Constructors’ Championship is not enough for Alpine. The Enstone squad faced further complications in Texas with an unnecessary internal conflict between its drivers. Franco Colapinto disobeyed team orders issued from the pit wall, which instructed him to maintain his position behind Pierre Gasly, and instead defied the instructions by attacking and overtaking his teammate in the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.

The move was meaningless in terms of championship points – Franco Colapinto finished the American GP in 17th place, Gasly in 19th – but it infuriated the Anglo-French team management. Alpine’s general manager, Steve Nielsen, released an official statement after the race, making his dissatisfaction with the incident clear.

Franco Colapinto on thin ice

“We instructed the drivers to hold their positions,” Nielsen commented, “because we were managing fuel for both cars and had the additional variable of the remaining laps with the race leaders close by. As a team, any instruction given from the pit wall is final, and today we are disappointed that this was not followed. This is something we will review and address internally.”

Franco Colapinto’s actions have not earned him any ‘points’ within the team regarding his future in 2026. The Argentine’s contract is expiring, and so far Flavio Briatore’s team has not confirmed whether he will be renewed for the next season. Since taking over from Jack Doohan, the former Williams driver has yet to score a single championship point. During the same period, Gasly has finished in the top 10 three times, collecting 13 points.