Overview

• Alpine instructed both drivers to hold position in the final laps for fuel management, but Franco Colapinto overtook Pierre Gasly into Turn 1.
• Managing director Steve Nielsen said team-wall instructions are final and announced the incident will be addressed internally.
• Colapinto argued he had fresher tyres and was trying to keep Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto behind as pressure built.
• The team left Austin without points, with Colapinto classified 17th and Gasly 19th after being passed by Bortoleto.
• Gasly voiced frustration and called for an internal debrief, while reports note Colapinto has no confirmed 2026 contract and could face team discipline.