Alpine have confirmed that Franco Colapinto suffered a massive crash on the second day of Pirelli’s 2026 F1 tyre test at the Hungaroring circuit.
The Italian tyre supplier has been conducting regular tests throughout the season to develop its 2026 tyre compounds. The new tyres are smaller and narrower as part of Formula 1’s upcoming technical regulations.
The objective of the Pirelli test is to evaluate and validate tyre constructions for official approval by September 1. For the prototype compounds, the deadline for homologation is December 15.
Colapinto’s crash during Pirelli’s tyre test in Hungary
Following last weekend’s Hungarian GP, Alpine, Racing Bulls, McLaren, and Ferrari are the four teams participating in the two-day tyre test.
While three F1 teams, including Alpine, hit the track in Mogyorod yesterday, the French outfit stayed on for a second day alongside Ferrari.
Alpine’s test and reserve driver Paul Aron found himself behind the wheel of a mule car based on their 2023 model on the first day. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly split their duties on Wednesday to drive the A525.
However, the Argentine driver lost control at the fast Turn 11 right-hander early in his programme, which resulted in extensive damage to his A525. Fortunately, he remains uninjured.
While Alpine haven’t divulged any information regarding the cause of the crash, their brief statement has ensured that Colapinto managed to walk away unscathed.
“During Day 2 of Pirelli Tyre Testing at the Hungaroring this morning, Franco Colapinto had an incident at Turn 11.
“Franco was assessed on site at the Medical Centre and is OK.”
Colapinto’s F1 career hangs by a thread
This crash is undeniably a huge setback for Franco Colapinto, who has yet to score a point since replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine, starting from the Imola GP. In the same time period, his teammate Gasly has scored 13 crucial points, to add to his 7 points from the first six rounds of the season.
Despite Alpine’s disappointing performance in Hungary before the summer break, Colapinto received a small boost of confidence as he managed to outpace his experienced teammate and make it to the second segment of qualifying. He would’ve finished comfortably ahead in Sunday’s race as well if it weren’t for the two incredibly slow pit stops that neutralised his progress.
Nonetheless, with a couple of crashes in qualifying and his inability to finish in the top ten so far, Colapinto’s precarious contractual status is certainly putting him under immense pressure to deliver. With his future in F1 seemingly hinging on a race-by-race deal, it remains to be seen whether Alpine bench him in favour of another reserve driver before all twenty cars hit the track in Zandvoort.
