Colapinto: 'I had a very bad start and was already fighting from behind'

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto described his fifteenth-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix as a consequence of a "very bad start," which forced him to battle from the back of the pack from the very first lap. The eighth round of the Formula One World Championship, held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, proved challenging for the Alpine driver.

Colapinto explained that the weekend was difficult, as neither he nor the team could find the optimal pace or grip. They struggled to achieve a good car balance, and the race's length, combined with high asphalt temperatures, led to significant tire wear, particularly on the rear tires. "I had a very bad start due to a lack of power, and we were already fighting from behind from the first lap," the 23-year-old native of Pilar, Buenos Aires, stated.

This result follows Colapinto's best performance in Formula One just a month prior, where he finished sixth in the Canadian Grand Prix. In Austria, he had crossed the finish line in eighth place but received a ten-second penalty, dropping him two positions. "There were a couple of fights out there, but we want to be fighting further up; that's what we expect to do at Silverstone next weekend," Colapinto added.

Despite not scoring points in Austria, Colapinto maintains his twelfth position in the World Championship standings with 16 points. He is looking ahead to the next race at Silverstone, hoping to regain his competitive form and fight for higher positions.