Colapinto calls Barcelona practice 'one of the toughest Fridays'

Franco Colapinto labeled the practice sessions for the Barcelona-Cataluña Grand Prix as "one of the most difficult Fridays so far this season." The Argentine driver, competing for Alpine, secured the fifteenth fastest time in free practice at the Montmeló circuit.

"Today was not a good day on track, possibly one of the most difficult Fridays so far this season," Colapinto stated. He explained that the car was challenging to drive, suffering from a lack of grip and significant tire slip. The high temperatures also presented a stark contrast to the conditions during the car's shakedown at the same circuit in January.

Colapinto's teammate, Pierre Gasly, had his third-place finish in Monaco reinstated after his team's appeal successfully overturned two five-second penalties. Colapinto extended his congratulations to Gasly and the team for securing the podium, acknowledging their hard work and the significant points gained for the team.

Looking ahead, Colapinto hopes for a significant improvement during the third and final practice session. "Hopefully, we can experience some improvements tomorrow in the third free practice, before another important qualifying session," he added.