Franco Colapinto experienced a crash while driving Alpine’s A525 Formula 1 car in a Pirelli tyre test at the Hungaroring on Wednesday. The incident occurred during a two-day session organized by Pirelli to trial their 2026 F1 tyre compounds, which will feature smaller and narrower designs as per upcoming technical regulations.

Details of the Tyre Testing and Involved Teams

The testing involved three cars built to 2025 specifications, supplied by Alpine, McLaren, and Racing Bulls. On the first day, these teams ran their tests at the Mogyorod circuit, with Alpine continuing alongside Ferrari on the second day. Allocating track time depends on which teams volunteer for these testing duties.

Crash Incident and Driver Condition

Colapinto’s crash happened at Turn 11, a relatively high-speed right-hand corner on the Hungaroring layout. Fortunately, the Argentinian driver was not injured and received a medical evaluation at the track’s medical centre. Alpine confirmed his condition by stating,

“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,”

— Alpine spokesperson.

Colapinto’s Struggles and Team Status

This accident comes amid a difficult season for Colapinto, who has yet to finish a Grand Prix inside the top 12. His teammate, Pierre Gasly, has collected 20 points across the season so far, outperforming Colapinto significantly. Gasly has also outqualified Colapinto seven times to two and has avoided the crashes that have affected Colapinto’s qualifying sessions. Additionally, Colapinto’s position at Alpine remains uncertain, as he reportedly races on a race-by-race contract, creating the possibility of his replacement at any moment.

Future Implications Following the Incident

This crash represents a setback for both Colapinto’s development and Alpine’s preparations for next year’s tyre regulations. Alpine and Pirelli will likely continue testing and collecting data to optimize the 2026 tyres despite the interruption. Updates on Colapinto’s status and any further impact on the team’s testing program are expected as additional information becomes available.