Franco Colapinto Faces F1 Grid Penalty After Engine Swap

Franco Colapinto faces a possible setback ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix after Alpine installed a fourth internal combustion engine (ICE) in his car. FIA regulations allow drivers up to four ICE units per season before grid penalties apply.

With this latest engine at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Colapinto risks a 10-place grid drop if Alpine fits any more fresh engines before the season ends. The first three ICE units remain available, but further use of new units leads to immediate penalties.

The Argentine rookie took over the second Alpine seat from Jack Doohan, with his deal covering five rounds starting from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. This stint runs at least through the Austrian Grand Prix.

In addition to the engine change, Colapinto will receive a new exhaust system this weekend. This is the fifth exhaust used on his car in 2025, with the FIA allowing up to eight before penalties are triggered.

So far, Colapinto is searching for his first points of the year. His opening races at Imola and Monaco both ended without scoring, similar to struggles faced by other drivers such as Carlos Sainz in Monaco.

Expectations remain high for the 22-year-old. Team leader Flavio Briatore has emphasized that Colapinto must bring speed, score points, and avoid incidents on track.

This pressure grows as Alpine continues adjusting after Oliver Oakes’s departure, with Briatore now overseeing several roles within Team Enstone.

Uncertainty surrounds Colapinto’s race seat beyond the Austrian Grand Prix. Although his initial commitment was for five rounds, talks are ongoing about his continuation with Alpine for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.

Previous drivers like Jack Doohan remain linked to the team, and line-up changes could occur if Colapinto does not meet management’s targets. Alpine’s current results make every race vital in the fiercely competitive midfield battle.

The Spanish Grand Prix offers a key chance for Colapinto to demonstrate progress. He remains eligible to race without penalty this weekend, having stayed within FIA component limits.

However, every session is crucial since another engine change would cost him 10 places on the starting grid—a significant disadvantage on a technical track.

As the season unfolds, fans and team leaders will closely watch how Colapinto manages the mounting pressure. The coming races will be critical in deciding his future at Alpine, as he aims to deliver points and avoid costly mistakes.

For now, he stands at an important crossroads, with each performance pivotal to his F1 career.