Alpine Weekend Wrap-Up: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025

The first European round of the 2025 Formula 1 season wrapped up at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, with BWT Alpine F1 Team showing resilience, promise, and a fighting spirit in front of the passionate Italian fans. While the team narrowly missed out on points, there were many encouraging signs—especially for debutant Franco Colapinto.

Pierre Gasly: From Top 10 Start to Frustrating Finish

Pierre Gasly looked set to challenge for a points finish after a rapid launch from the grid that saw him climb into ninth place early on. A bold battle with Charles Leclerc at Turn 9 ultimately cost him five positions, as a wide move on low grip saw him miss the corner.

"Personally, I am not happy with my race because I made a costly mistake and I know that should not happen," Gasly admitted. "We showed some good pace throughout the weekend and I felt happy with the car over one lap."

Despite a solid two-stop strategy and strong early pace, a late-race Safety Car gave rivals on one-stop strategies a free pit stop, making it difficult for Gasly to fight back. He brought the car home in P13, and is now turning his attention to Monaco—a circuit where his qualifying strength could play to Alpine's advantage.

Franco Colapinto: A Gritty First Outing

Franco Colapinto's first full Grand Prix weekend in Formula 1 was eventful and memorable. After an unfortunate crash in Q1 on Saturday, the Alpine crew delivered an outstanding overnight rebuild to get the A525 ready for lights out on Sunday.

Starting towards the back of the grid, Colapinto showed promising pace and race craft. His Medium stint was long and competitive, setting him up for a one-stop strategy that looked set to deliver a solid result. Unfortunately, the timing of the Virtual and full Safety Cars left him disadvantaged on worn tyres, making it tough to hold position against those on fresher rubber.

"We had good pace in the car and we learnt a lot," said Colapinto. "Better tracks are coming for us, especially Monaco. It is a place which requires very high confidence. I’m still learning more and more each time I am in the car so I’ll build it up."

Crossing the line in P16, Franco gained invaluable experience and proved he belongs at the elite level. His calm feedback, consistent pace, and measured approach were all positives the team will build on.

Flavio Briatore: Encouraging Signs, Unlucky Timing

Team Principal Flavio Briatore was optimistic in his post-race comments, praising the team's race pace and composure despite the late strategic setbacks.

"We were set for a good result today and had a chance for points before the Virtual Safety Car," Briatore noted. "Particularly with Franco, we were planning on a one-stop strategy to the end and with the field being neutralised others were essentially given a free pit-stop. This happens in racing, and the final standings do not reflect where we could have been today."

Looking ahead to Monaco, Briatore sees another opportunity for the team to capitalise: "It’s a home race for me personally and a track where we can again have an opportunity to compete."

Next Stop: Monaco

The tight streets of Monte Carlo await, and both Gasly and Colapinto will be looking to build on the learnings from Imola. For Alpine, the weekend may not have delivered points, but it offered clear evidence of forward steps—in pace, preparation, and team unity.

With confidence and experience growing, the 2025 campaign is just getting started.

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Images courtesy of BWT Alpine F1.