Franco Colapinto caused the third red flag of the session during the first free practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The young Argentine took turn 14 a bit too wide and parked his FW46 into the wall. This wasn’t surprising, given that the rookie is only in his second weekend in Formula 1 and has little experience with the Baku street circuit. According to Colapinto, he made a ‘rookie mistake’.
The first free practice was already plagued by red flags before Franco Colapinto halted the session for the third time. Earlier, debris on the track caused an interruption, and not much later, Charles Leclerc brought out the red flag. With eighteen minutes left on the clock, it was Colapinto who met his Waterloo in turn 14.
Young Racer’s Defense After Crash
The 21-year-old Williams racer defended himself after the incident, stating that he was still ‘getting to know the circuit’. Everything is new for Colapinto, who made his debut in Formula 1 during the Italian Grand Prix. He is the replacement for Logan Sargeant, who caused so much damage last year that he had to leave the premier class prematurely.
‘We Are Doing Well’
“Apart from the crash, we had a good day,” responded Franco Colapinto. During the second free practice, the young driver kept his car within the lines and recorded the fourteenth time. “The heroes of the day are the mechanics,” the Argentine explained. “They did a great job repairing my car in time for VT2. I am proud of the team for all their efforts.”
“I was really happy that I could do another session to build my confidence,” Colapinto continued. “It was a beginner’s mistake, but it can cost you a lot here. Fortunately, the car is in good shape; I am feeling more and more comfortable. I need to keep working to get a grip on the degradation and the temperature of the tires. That remains difficult, as it is only my second race and it is a street circuit. It was a difficult start, but I think we are doing well,” he concluded.