Alex Albon retracts his opinion on the F1 GP incident with Franco Colapinto at the Singapore GP

Alex Albon has retracted his original opinion on his Williams teammate Franco Colapinto’s ‘divebomb’ maneuver at the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The Anglo-Thai driver, who started the race in 11th place, one place ahead of Colapinto, was initially outraged by the Argentine.

“Franco just made a dive,” Albon called over the radio as the lights went out. “What is he doing?”

In fact, at the start of the Singapore GP, Colapinto shot ahead on the inside of the first corner, moving up from twelfth to ninth, while Albon was caught on the outside and dropped to 15th.

“I don't know what it looked like from the outside, but I think it was more because nobody could turn into the corner,” Albon said after the race.

“So, everyone ganged up on each other and basically had to go straight through the first corner. I was on the outside and I paid the price for that.”

“I don't really have anything to criticize. It was just a bit of a shame that I was the one on the other side of the corner.”

Albon added that “it was a bit frustrating,” and further explained that “the whole weekend was a bit frustrating” as he felt he had a car that could qualify in the top 10.

Sainz criticises Colapinto maneuver

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was another driver caught off guard by Colapinto's maneuver on Lap 1, Turn 1.

The Spaniard had to go into the runoff and found himself in 12th place.

Sainz argued that caution prevailed as he qualified in 10th place despite being surrounded by midfield teams fighting hard for their positions.

“A Williams came from the inside and braked very late,” Sainz told DAZN.

“I think it was Franco who almost overtook two or three of us at the front. Nothing, absolutely nothing happened, there was no accident, but when you're fighting for the constructors' championship with the team, you have to be a bit more cautious with cars that have less to lose and whose lives are at stake at the start.”

Colapinto took his chance against Albon

Colapinto has impressed since his Williams F1 debut at Monza.

In Italy, he drove from 18th place on the grid to 12th place and scored his first points at the next race in Baku.

The Argentinian qualified last Saturday in Singapore 0.007 seconds behind his teammate and had no problems overtaking him on lap 1.

“There was a gap and I went into the corner,” Colapinto explained after the race.

“There was no one to my right, and I left space to the right up to the white line, and there was no one there.

“Well, I don't know. I haven't seen the replay yet.”