The FIA has confirmed that Alpine driver Franco Colapinto will receive a one-place grid penalty for the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix following a qualifying rules infringement at Imola.
During Q1, after a red flag was issued due to Yuki Tsunoda’s crash, Colapinto entered the fast lane of the pit lane before the session’s restart time had been officially confirmed. This action breached Article 12.2.1 i) of the International Sporting Code and contravened the race director’s event notes.
The stewards investigated the incident and determined that the breach was inadvertent, resulting from a miscommunication between Colapinto and his team. Despite the lack of intent, the stewards imposed a one-place grid penalty to uphold the integrity of the regulations.
Colapinto, making his return to Formula 1 with Alpine after replacing Jack Doohan, had initially qualified 15th. With the penalty applied, he will start 16th on the grid.
This incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to procedural protocols during qualifying sessions, especially in situations involving red flags and session restarts.