F1 fans all say the same thing as Franco Colapinto crash causes red flag at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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Franco Colapinto crashed out of qualifying for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix a day after Flavio Briatore said he needs “one or two races” to pick Alpine’s 2026 line-up.

The Enstone squad are one of the four teams yet to confirm their driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season, with Red Bull, Racing Bulls and Mercedes also holding vacancies. But Briatore has whittled down his shortlist of drivers who may be Pierre Gasly’s Alpine teammate next term.

Briatore has confirmed that Alpine will pick between Colapinto and Paul Aron, their reserve driver, as the Italian questions the skills of their alternative options for a 2026 race seat. The Alpine executive adviser also stated ahead of the Azerbaijan GP that a decision is likely soon.

Colapinto currently only has a race-by-race contract after surviving his initial five-round deal to replace Jack Doohan at Alpine back in May. The Argentine is also yet to score a point after 10 rounds as an Alpine race driver, and will also now start from the back of the grid in Baku.

F1 fans think Alpine will drop Franco Colapinto after his Q1 crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Colapinto brought Q1 at the Azerbaijan GP to a slightly early end this Saturday, as the Alpine driver wrapped his A525 around the TecPro barriers at Turn 4. The 22-year-old lost control of the rear of his car in the right-hander, where Gasly was already sitting in the run-off area.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know

Gasly had run deep at T4 moments before Colapinto arrived, which did not bring out yellow flags but rather a white flag for a stationary car waiting to rejoin. But seeing Colapinto crash in qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP convinced many F1 fans that his time with Alpine is over.

One fan posted on X after Colapinto’s crash in Baku: “Does not seem like he will be driving this Alpine for long.” Another fan also claimed: “He is awful. There goes his seat for 2026.” One fan also pondered after Colapinto’s crash: “So, who is coming to Alpine next season?”

The Azerbaijan GP is the seventh time that Colapinto has not advanced from Q1 over his 11 rounds as an Alpine driver. So, one fan noted: “So, so bad, get him gone.” While another fan has told Alpine to “Send him back to F2”, where Colapinto contested 20 races during 2024.

For some F1 fans, the Azerbaijan GP should also be Colapinto’s final race as an Alpine driver after his crash during qualifying in Baku. One fan told Alpine: “Let Doohan take over for the rest of the season.” Another fan also said: “I think this is over for him. Tomorrow, he won’t start, and Jack will take it from Singapore.” Doohan remains an F1 reserve driver for Alpine.

Karun Chandhok thinks Flavio Briatore ruling Jack Doohan out of a 2025 F1 seat is ‘harsh’

But while some fans think Alpine should put Doohan back in their car after Colapinto’s crash in qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP, he is not on Briatore’s shortlist for a 2026 seat. Also, Aron is the most likely candidate to replace Colapinto if Alpine make another 2025 driver change.

Briatore ruling Doohan out of a 2026 Alpine F1 seat, with the decision to be between Aron and Colapinto, has surprised Karun Chandhok. The ex-HRT F1 driver feels it is “quite harsh” for the Australian to be ignored for the seat, as he only got six races at the start of the year.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan? All to know from girlfriend to dad

Chandhok told Sky Sports F1 (20/09, 13:48): “He didn’t mention Jack Doohan, which seems quite harsh because Jack didn’t have many opportunities to really prove himself.

“Flavio’s gone flat-out in classic Flavio style and basically gone, ‘Right. It’s only these two. I’m not looking at anyone else’. Which is pretty strong.”

Briatore benched Doohan to promote Colapinto after the Australian failed to score a point in his six rounds, or in his debut in Abu Dhabi last December. But Colapinto is still yet to score a point for Alpine after 10 appearances, and he also entered nine races for Williams last term.

Another driver change may now be likely in Enstone, as well. Reports emerged ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP that Alpine could drop Colapinto if he faltered in Baku. His crash in Q1 will do little to help Colapinto convince Briatore that he deserves the seat in 2025 or ‘26.