Alpine driver Franco Colapinto is facing a grid penalty at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after a breach during qualifying at Imola.

Colapinto is making his first appearance of the F1 2025 season at Imola this weekend having replaced Jack Doohan at Alpine after the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month.

Franco Colapinto facing Imola GP grid penalty amid FIA investigation

The Argentine suffered a huge accident in Q1 on Saturday, hitting the barrier after losing control on the exit of the Tamburello chicane.

Colapinto is set to start the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 15th place at the time of writing having failed to set a time in Q2 as a result of his crash.

However, the 21-year-old is at risk of a further blow after a breach just minutes before his crash.

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Colapinto entered the pit lane before the FIA communicated a restart time following the red flag for Yuki Tsunoda’s crash earlier in Q1.

Colapinto and an Alpine representative were required to visit the stewards at 1745 local time at Imola over an ‘alleged breach Article 12.2.1 i) of the International Sporting Code and noncompliance with Race Director’s Event Note (item 17, document 4) – Entering fast lane in the pit lane before a re-start time was confirmed.’

Colapinto is likely to be hit with a grid penalty after Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were punished for the same offence during qualifying at last month’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Russell and Antonelli were both given a one-place grid penalty in Bahrain.

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The investigation into Colapinto’s potential qualifying breach comes after Doohan was spotted in the Imola paddock in his new role as Alpine’s reserve driver.

Alpine confirmed upon the announcement of Colapinto’s promotion that Doohan will remain ‘an integral part of the team’ despite losing his race seat, with the Australian regarded as the team’s ‘first-choice reserve driver’ in the event of Colapinto or Pierre Gasly being ruled out.

PlanetF1.com understands that Doohan arrived at Imola on Saturday morning after supporting Alpine’s efforts from the team’s simulator at Enstone on Friday.

The Australian posted an image of himself in the simulator to Instagram’s story function, which allows images and clips to be seen for a maximum of 24 hours.

Doohan is expected to perform standard reserve driver duties from trackside at Imola, observing and supporting the team and contributing where appropriate.

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