BREAKING:F1 Team Issues Apology After Bizarre R…read more

F1 Team Issues Apology After Bizarre Red Flag Incident at Chinese Grand Prix

The Alpine Formula 1 team has issued an apology following an unusual red flag disruption during the only practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix. Jack Doohan’s car suffered a sudden power failure, forcing him to pull off the track.

Although Doohan managed to park his car in a seemingly safe area, race stewards deemed its location hazardous, prompting a late red flag that cut short the session. The timing of the incident was particularly frustrating, as the Chinese GP is a sprint weekend, meaning teams had just one hour of practice before heading straight into sprint qualifying later in the day.

Doohan’s Weekend Woes Continue Amid Alpine’s Challenges

Doohan, who is under pressure to perform in his first full season in Formula 1, was unable to complete any laps on soft tyres before sprint qualifying due to the stoppage. The 22-year-old Australian is hoping for a stronger showing after crashing out in wet conditions at his home race in Australia. However, Alpine’s technical failure has further disrupted his preparations in Shanghai.

Adding to his challenges, Doohan’s future at Alpine remains uncertain, as the team recently signed 2024 sensation Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver. Colapinto has attended both race weekends this season, increasing speculation about Alpine’s long-term driver plans.

Alpine Takes Responsibility for the Incident 

After the session, Alpine publicly acknowledged the issue on social media, assuring fans they were investigating the cause and working on a fix.

“Seeing a car stopped on track is never ideal during a session,” the team posted on X (formerly Twitter). “This one’s on us. We’ll analyze the problem and ensure it’s resolved for later.”

Despite the setback, Doohan managed to outqualify his teammate Pierre Gasly in sprint qualifying. However, it was only a minor victory, as he still failed to progress beyond SQ1 and will start Saturday’s sprint race from 16th place.

With Alpine struggling for both pace and reliability, the team will be looking for improvements in the upcoming sessions. Meanwhile, Doohan faces an uphill battle to solidify his place in the sport.