Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Juana Viale criticises Alpine over its treatment of Franco Colapinto
Juana Viale criticised Alpine during her TV show in Argentina over how the team treats driver Franco Colapinto.
She questioned why Pierre Gasly is often kept ahead of Colapinto, according to the discussion on the programme.
The debate followed praise for Colapinto, including for displaying an Argentine flag after a race.
A journalist on the show said drivers with more experience can lead while newer team members work to earn that role.
Alpine's team orders are intended to protect positions in the constructors' championship and avoid unnecessary clashes between its two drivers.
The discussion also referred to a collision between the Alpine cars at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that led to a retirement, but no next steps were given.
Juana Viale criticised Alpine on her television programme over what she said was preferential treatment for Pierre Gasly over Franco Colapinto.
She questioned why the team did not let Colapinto pass Gasly, saying the situation irritated her.
A journalist on the programme said team hierarchies can reflect drivers’ experience and can change with results.
The article says Alpine’s team orders are intended to avoid clashes between its drivers and protect positions in the constructors’ championship.
- Who
- Juana Viale criticised Alpine’s treatment of Franco Colapinto relative to teammate Pierre Gasly.
- What
- Viale objected to team orders she said favoured Gasly. A journalist said experience can shape a team’s hierarchy.
- When
- The discussion took place during an episode of Almorzando con Juana; the article was published on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- On the television programme Almorzando con Juana, broadcast by Eltrece.
- Why
- Viale said Gasly was kept ahead of Colapinto. The article says Alpine’s orders aim to avoid clashes and protect positions in the constructors’ championship.
Juana Viale
Alpine's team-order approach
Passing Gasly
Juana Viale
Viale asked why Alpine did not let Colapinto pass and said, “Me irrita.
Alpine's team-order approach
The article says Alpine uses strict team orders to avoid unnecessary friction between its drivers and protect positions in the constructors’ championship.
Driver hierarchy
Juana Viale
Viale argued that Colapinto’s driving ability supported his case.
Alpine's team-order approach
Journalist Alejandra Martínez said a driver’s experience can determine who leads and who must earn that place, and that the hierarchy can change with results.
The programme’s guests recalled Colapinto displaying an Argentine flag after a race.
Infobae published its report on Viale’s criticism of Alpine during Almorzando con Juana.
- Programme
- Almorzando con Juana, on Eltrece
- Drivers discussed
- Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly
- Viale's reaction
- Me irrita
- Team rationale stated in article
- Avoid friction between drivers and protect positions in the constructors’ championship
- Prior incident cited
- A collision between Alpine’s two cars at the Baku Grand Prix led to a retirement
What people are saying
Why don’t they let Franco pass? Gasly always has to be ahead, damn it.
It irritates me.
In every team in general, when you have someone with more experience, and it happens in a theatre production too, right? You have someone who leads and someone who has to learn and earn the place of leading.
Even with his teammate, when they’re tenth and eleventh: ‘Come on, pass him, kid, pass him.’