Colapinto takes centre stage as Alpine return during F1’s April lull

Formula 1 finds itself in a forced month-long break due to rising tensions in the Middle East, which have led top officials to cancel — at least for now — the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, pending a decision on whether they can be rescheduled later in the season.

The Argentine was therefore able to stay sharp and keep busy on track, much like McLaren and Mercedes did at the Nürburgring, and Ferrari at Imola in recent days.

The French outfit has enjoyed a strong start to the season across the opening three races and currently sits fifth in the standings, level on points with Red Bull, with Gasly contributing 15 of those and Colapinto just one.

It marks a clear step forward compared to last year, helped in part by having the strongest engine on the grid, the Mercedes unit, which made its debut this season.

In a recent open letter, the French outfit stressed that both drivers are treated equally on and off the track, reaffirming its trust in Colapinto while firmly dismissing any claims of sabotage or unequal machinery as baseless, prompting the team to address the situation publicly.

It also acknowledged that, during the development race, upgrades may occasionally arrive on one car first, but underlined that this will be communicated clearly and transparently, with the goal of bringing updates to both cars as quickly as possible and maintaining parity across the garage.

At the same time, the team rejected any notion of self-sabotage, insisting that after a strong start to the season it remains focused, grounded, and fully committed to maximising results.