After finishing last in the qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Argentine Alpine driver Franco Colapinto commented on his performance at the Yas Marina Circuit. According to the Argentine News Agency, at the start of his analysis, the driver from Pilar stated: “I went two track limits... to be honest, I don't know what happened, I didn't have grip again at the back, I was struggling with the same thing all day, we changed a couple of things and I don't have the grip I need... it's really very difficult”. On the other hand, the Alpine driver noted that he started well in FP1, where he felt comfortable. “Less fuel and more engine power, it should have been a lot more, so I don't understand what's going on,” he added. “Why can't I extract more in the Qualy... but anyway, you have to work to have a better performance tomorrow and finish the race as best as possible,” closing his statement after the Qualifying for the final round of Formula 1. Ahead of the race, the situation of starting last forces Colapinto and Alpine to completely rethink their strategy. The final message, “you have to work to have a better performance tomorrow,” is the reflection of a competitor who does not give in to adversity. Beyond the result in Abu Dhabi, this type of weekend is crucial for his development, exposing areas for improvement both in communication with the technical team and in adaptability to an unstable car—lessons that will be fundamental for his future in the top category of single-seaters. Starting from the back of the grid at Yas Marina, a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult, minimizes the chances of points, but opens the door to a riskier strategy, perhaps betting on a Safety Car or a tire management that could surprise. The goal now must be to accumulate valuable data, keep the car clean, and, as he expressed it, finish the race in the best possible way, prioritizing learning over the result.
