Alpine’s Gasly and Colapinto lose points after penalties; Ryo Hirakawa scores on debut at Mexico City
Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were stripped of their points after post‑race penalties, while rookie Ryo Hirakawa became the first Japanese driver to score on his F1 debut at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Mexico City saw a dramatic reshuffle of the final standings after the FIA handed post‑race penalties to Alpine’s two drivers. Pierre Gasly, who had finished ninth, and rookie teammate Franco Colapinto, who crossed the line eighth, were each handed a five‑second time penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap. The penalties dropped both drivers out of the points, moving the midfield order up by two places.
Both penalties were issued after stewards reviewed telemetry and on‑track footage, concluding that the drivers had gained an advantage by repeatedly running wide in Turn 14. The decision was confirmed by the race director and published in the official stewards’ report, which Motorsport.com and Autosport cited in their post‑race coverage.
While Alpine’s points haul was erased, the race produced a historic moment for Japanese motorsport. Ryo Hirakawa, driving for the AlphaTauri team as a stand‑in for the injured Yuki Tsunoda, finished sixth – the highest ever placing for a Japanese driver on debut. Hirakawa’s performance earned him two championship points and placed him ahead of several seasoned regulars, including Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen.
For Indian fans, the implications are clear. The penalty reshuffle means that the points‑rich midfield battle now includes a stronger showing from teams like Aston Martin and McLaren, both of which will benefit from the extra points. Moreover, Hirakawa’s achievement adds another storyline for viewers who follow Asian drivers, and his points finish could boost AlphaTauri’s standing in the constructors’ championship.
Indian viewers can catch the next race live on FanCode, with the broadcast scheduled to start at 02:30 IST for the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Re‑watch the Mexican GP highlights on the same platform to see the exact moments that led to the Alpine penalties and Hirakawa’s impressive overtakes.
Source: Autosport