Formula 1: Colapinto could face a severe penalty in the next race

The current situation of Franco Colapinto in Formula 1 is not only affected by the performance of the Alpine, one of the least competitive cars on the grid, but also by the condition of his engine. The Argentine driver has already completed four consecutive races with the same unit and, after reaching the limit of allowed components, he could receive a penalty if the team decides to replace them.

The problem is a carryover, since Jack Doohan, who drove the A525 in six Grands Prix before Miami, used three of the slots on key parts such as the turbocharger and the MGU-H. With the regulatory limit set at four per season, Colapinto is already using the fifth, which also shows significant wear after Belgium, Hungary, Netherlands, and Italy.

The regulations are clear and state that no car may exceed four units of internal combustion engine, turbochargers, MGU-H, and MGU-K throughout the year. If this happens, five-place grid penalties are applied for each extra replacement.

The street circuit of Baku, host of the next Grand Prix, appears as a possible opportunity for Alpine. The layout is very demanding on engines, and the French team already knows it will struggle in qualifying. If Colapinto starts from the back, a penalty for changing parts would not significantly alter the scenario.

In addition, installing fresh components could provide a performance boost ahead of Singapore, scheduled for October 5, on a more technical circuit that is less dependent on pure power.

Meanwhile, Colapinto is not the only driver in a critical situation. According to the FIA, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) are also in the "red." In contrast, his teammate Pierre Gasly still has one replacement available within the allowed limit.