![\"Alpine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/XPB_1397160_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlpine has quashed rumours it has been sabotaging Franco Colapinto during the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlpine has quashed rumours it has been sabotaging Franco Colapinto during the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The statement follows speculation that gathered momentum across the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, with some fans alleging deliberate differences between Colapinto\u2019s car and that of teammate Pierre Gasly.<\/p>\n
In a message published across its social media channels, Alpine moved to firmly shut down that narrative, stressing parity remains a core principle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team endeavours to put the two fastest cars on track and provide equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive and score important points for the team in the championship,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
It acknowledged minor variations did occur in Shanghai, but only due to a late gearbox issue that forced Colapinto onto older components, with Alpine clear the impact was negligible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has remained the case this year and both Pierre and Franco have been running with the same equipment, barring some small low-performance impacting parts in China due to switching gearbox components,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
The team went further, directly addressing the \u201csabotage\u201d accusations that had spread online.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out,\u201d they explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely not in the team\u2019s interests to not score points and any suggestion of self sabotage isn\u2019t conducive to that ultimate end goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some instances, given the need to fast-track parts and carefully manage the manufacturing process, the team is only able to bring select parts or upgrades to some events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere might be times this year when pushing in the development race that upgrades come to one car first, which the team will communicate and be completely transparent about.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat being said, the aim will always remain to bring upgrades to both cars where possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the technical clarification, the statement also served as a reset on the narrative surrounding Colapinto\u2019s start to the 2026 season, with Alpine reiterating its backing of the Argentinian.<\/p>\n
\u201cFranco is our driver and the team has placed its trust in him, just as he has with the team,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is an indication of the commitment we have to Franco and his place in the team with equal footing alongside Pierre.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement also addressed a surge in online abuse directed at drivers in recent weeks, including Colapinto after his Suzuka clash involving Oliver Bearman, and earlier threats aimed at former Alpine driver Esteban Ocon following their collision in China.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team condemns the hateful messages aimed towards Franco after last weekend\u2019s race in Japan, the same way it condemns the abuse and threats that were aimed towards Esteban Ocon following a collision between the two cars at the Chinese Grand Prix,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe resulting abuse that followed was not in the spirit of the sport and was an oversight not to call it out sooner. Abuse of any kind to all drivers is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alpine admitted it should have responded quicker in Ocon\u2019s case, describing that delay as an \u201coversight\u201d, while confirming it is working with Formula 1 and the FIA to better manage harmful behaviour online.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two drivers were racing hard and fighting for position and Esteban took full responsibility and apologised to Franco, actively seeking him out in the media pen and also apologising on social media,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was especially disappointing that it comes from a minority of fans of the team towards a driver who has given so much to the team in the past and is a Grand Prix winner for Alpine.\u201d<\/p>\n
After finishing last in 2025, Alpine has emerged as a consistent points contender across the opening rounds of 2026, a position it said underlines the futility of any suggestion of internal compromise.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the last two races, the team has been the fourth fastest car and we know we have to work incredibly hard to stay there and have two cars regularly in with a chance of scoring points,\u201d they explained.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alpine has quashed rumours it has been sabotaging Franco Colapinto during the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":581853,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[821,64,63,817,813,816,1802,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-581852","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-alpine","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-f1","12":"tag-formula-1","13":"tag-formula1","14":"tag-franco-colapinto","15":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/581853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}