Franco Colapinto sufre problemas técnicos en la práctica libre del Gran Premio de Canadá

Franco Colapinto Faces Technical Issues in First Practice for Canadian Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto began the first day of activity for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal with a problematic start. The Argentine driver exited the pits in the early minutes of the session and encountered issues on the straight leading to the final chicane of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“The accelerator isn’t working,” Colapinto reported over the radio before slowly moving to the pit lane, attempting to let the car continue by inertia to return to the garage. He was unable to fully return and ended up parking in front of the Cadillac garage, though the mechanics recovered the car and pushed it to the Alpine garage.

Shortly after, Alpine issued a statement: “The team is investigating a power unit (hardware) issue in Colapinto’s car. Colapinto is out of the car while the team evaluates the situation, aiming to get him back on track later in FP1.”

Following Colapinto’s issues, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls also experienced a problem, prompting a red flag after 12 minutes. Lawson reported losing power steering and stopping on the side of the track, leading to the session’s suspension. The incident revealed a potential hydraulic issue, though an official update from the team is pending.

The session resumed four minutes later, with the race director extending the practice by four minutes. The event highlighted the challenges faced by drivers and teams in adapting to the demanding Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Key Takeaways

• Franco Colapinto encountered an accelerator malfunction during the first practice session.
• Alpine is investigating a power unit hardware issue affecting Colapinto’s car.
• Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls also faced technical difficulties, resulting in a red flag.
• The session was extended to allow teams additional time to address issues.

Photos from Friday at the Canadian Grand Prix

See the latest images from the first practice session, capturing the challenges and moments of the drivers on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.