Alpine reviews Colapinto overtake of Gasly at US Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto ignored a clear team order in the closing laps of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, overtaking teammate Pierre Gasly for 17th place and prompting an internal review at Alpine. The move came as both cars were being managed late in the race and were vulnerable to being lapped, creating tension between a pit-wall directive and a young driver pressing to protect position.

Alpine instructed its drivers to hold station with only a few laps remaining as the team monitored fuel and the prospect of being caught by race leader Max Verstappen. With three laps to go, Colapinto’s race engineer told him and Gasly to "hold positions please." Colapinto responded over the radio, "But he’s slow," and shortly afterwards dived down the inside of Gasly into Turn 1 to take 17th. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, running behind the pair, then passed Gasly on the final lap, leaving Gasly last among the finishers.

The incident followed a difficult weekend for Alpine. Managing director Steve Nielsen said the team had multiple issues to review, including a slow pit stop for Gasly earlier in the race and uncertainty over fuel levels that influenced the decision to impose a...