F1 star speaks out on team orders after serious breach

Colapinto and Piastri facing each other in conversation on the FIA press conference couch — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 star speaks out on team orders after serious breach

Franco Colapinto has reaffirmed his acceptance of team orders

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Thursday 23 October 2025 12:57

A star of the 2025 F1 grid has spoken out on team orders after committing a serious breach at last weekend's United States Grand Prix.

The sprint weekend in Austin was hardly a quiet one, with the competitive outings kicking off with a bang in Saturday's sprint race when championship leader Oscar Piastri made contact with Nico Hulkenberg at COTA's chaotic turn one.

In doing so, Piastri ruled both himself and his McLaren team-mate out of the 100km race, meaning neither of them picked up any extra points.

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Max Verstappen instead boosted his championship chances thanks to a victory in the sprint and the main grand prix.

And the intra-team drama didn't stop there. In the closing stages of the 56-lap US GP, Alpine driver Franco Colapinto was instructed to hold his position.

But with two laps to go, the Argentine racer chose to overtake team-mate Pierre Gasly, leaving Gasly vulnerable to the threat of Gabriel Bortoleto behind him.

Colapinto issues Alpine future update after breaking major rule

After arguing against the team order over the radio, the 22-year-old held onto that position and crossed the line in 17th, two places ahead of Gasly, who finished the US GP in last place out of those who were left in the race.

Ahead of this weekend's Mexican GP, Colapinto has issued a statement addressing how he will respond to team orders from Alpine in future after disobeying them last time out.

In Alpine's Mexican GP preview, the already at-risk driver said: "The team situation on Sunday has been discussed internally and it is clear that instructions by the team must always be followed no matter what.

"We are all together, and we are all working towards the same goal to keep getting better with each session and each race weekend."

The former Williams star has just five rounds left to prove he deserves to retain his full-time F1 seat with the Enstone-based outfit, with reserve driver Paul Aron reportedly in contention for the seat as well.

Colapinto has failed to pick up any points since being called upon to replace an underperforming Jack Doohan earlier this season, and with Aron stepping into Gasly's machinery alongside Colapinto for FP1 in Mexico, the Argentine will be feeling the pressure to both perform and adhere to Alpine team orders.

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