Formula 1: A former driver questioned Franco Colapinto's position at Alpine
Chandhok believes there's more behind Alpine's decision
porEditorial Team
Argentina
It is about Karun Chandhok, who sowed uncertainty about the Argentine's future and believes that the 5 races are to wait for an increase in investment from Argentina
Alpine gave five races toFranco Colapinto to demonstrate his potential and justify a stable place in Formula 1. While it is a similar period to what Jack Doohan had at the beginning of the season, the decision still raises doubts about the real support the Argentine driver will have to compete with peace of mind.
This point was one of the most questioned in the analysis of Karun Chandhok, former Formula 1 driver, who shared his view on Sky Sports about the situation of the French team. "I still don't understand the overall strategy of what they're doing," expressed the Indian, who was part of the category in 2010 and 2011.
He also questioned the form of the announcement. "Announcing a five-race deal is not exactly a vote of confidence for the driver," he commented, and suggested that there might be economic reasons behind it: "They might be waiting to see if more money comes from Argentina."
Según Chandhok, Alpine está esperando más inversión de las empresas argentinas
"There are commercial aspects behind Colapinto's decision, but I don't think it's the only thing. It seems there are several layers and I feel we're not getting past the first ones, and all the reasons will be revealed over the next few weeks," he hinted.
Chandhok believes Colapinto is a “good driver,” but with reservations
The former Hispania and Lotus driver also referred to the Argentine's talent, although with some caution, especially due to the ups and downs he showed in his participations with Williams. "I think Colapinto is a good driver, but we barely got to see what he can do and it's hard to judge in such a small window. There is a lot of expectation from South America, where they see him as the next world champion," he commented.
Chandhok cree que Colapinto es un buen piloto, pero que le falta demostrar su nivel
He also recalled the rumors linking him with Red Bull and considered it was not the right time. "I said it last year: it would have been a mistake to jump to Red Bull. There was that rumor and I still believe it would have been too soon," he mentioned.
Finally, Chandhok closed with a warning about the Argentine's track record: "We'll see how he does. The damage bill at Williams wasn't small, and especially the one in Las Vegas didn't sit well with the team. The one in Brazil was more understandable due to the conditions, but in Vegas, it caused a lot of damage."
