ARArgentine driver Franco Colapinto finished 16th in the second practice session of the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, a result that masked the true potential of his Alpine car according to the report. Teammate Pierre Gasly secured eighth place, finishing just over half a second behind session leader Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, while both Racing Bulls drivers placed between them. Colapinto was tasked by his team with specific research duties involving medium and soft tire compounds rather than pure speed optimization. During the session, he recorded a lap time of 1 minute 19.132 seconds on soft tires, which was slower than Gasly’s 1 minute 18.407 seconds due to a lockup incident in the stadium section where many other drivers also struggled. The Argentine driver stated in an interview with ESPN that there were clear areas for improvement, particularly regarding downforce levels compared to the previous year, and noted that he had been finding progress during longer running stints. He also mentioned having limited track time in the first practice session because he had to share the car with Alpine reserve driver Gabriele Mini.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a standard motorsport event focusing on technical performance, race strategy, and driver interviews. There are no political elements, policy debates, or ideological framing present in the text. It is purely sports journalism.
