Alpine gives Gabriele Minì his first Formula 1 practice session in Mexico
Gabriele Minì will drive Franco Colapinto’s Alpine in the opening practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Italian academy driver gets his first official Formula 1 weekend session after testing older machinery. His assignment comes through the mandatory rookie-running programme, with simulator work and engineering preparation preceding his turn in the current A526. Minì stands fourth in Formula 2 with four races left.
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Minì takes Colapinto’s A526 on Friday
Alpine, the Formula 1 team, will put academy driver Gabriele Minì in Franco Colapinto’s A526 for the opening free practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Friday assignment is Minì’s first official Formula 1 weekend session and forms part of the mandatory rookie-running programme. Argentine sports broadcaster DEPORTV also confirmed the same practice handover, with Colapinto returning to the car for the later Friday session.[1], [2]
The Italian joined the Alpine Academy in 2023 as he began his first Formula 3 campaign. He now competes in Formula 2 and stood fourth in the championship when Alpine announced the Mexico opportunity. With four races remaining, his season included two wins and seven other podium finishes. His preparation has combined racing in the junior championship with work inside the Formula 1 team.[1]
Older-car testing precedes the current-car outing
Minì has already driven Formula 1 machinery through Alpine’s programme for testing previous cars. He regularly used last season’s A525 during that preparation. Mexico gives him the current A526 during an official race weekend, after those earlier tests away from that setting. Before travelling, he spent time in the simulator at Enstone and worked with the engineers to prepare for the session.[1]
Minì said he wanted to provide useful data and feedback to help the team prepare the weekend. Colapinto, meanwhile, said he looked forward to starting his own track running on Friday afternoon. The announced allocation concerns the opening practice session; the team’s weekend preparation continues with its regular drivers Pierre Gasly and Colapinto seeking points in the race.[1]
Mexico’s thin air changes the car’s workload
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City sits more than 2,200 metres above sea level. Alpine said the thinner air reduces both downforce and drag, making the venue unusual for car preparation. Teams traditionally use high-downforce packages despite the 1.2 kilometre main straight. Reduced air resistance still permits some of the season’s highest speeds. These are the conditions Minì will encounter in the A526.[1]
