Franco Colapinto's heavy crash at the Hungaroring has cut short Alpine's Pirelli 2026 Formula 1 tyre testing program. The incident occurred early in Colapinto's driving session, causing significant damage to the car.
Why it matters
This disruption affects crucial development work for Pirelli's 2026 F1 tyres, impacting Alpine's contribution to validating new constructions and developing softer compounds (C3-C5) ahead of the September 1 homologation deadline. It also marks a setback for Colapinto, who is still seeking his first points since joining Alpine.
The details
- Incident: Colapinto crashed at the fast Turn 11 right-hander. He was checked at the medical centre and confirmed to be okay.
- Testing participants: After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alpine, McLaren, and Racing Bulls participated on Tuesday. Alpine stayed for a second day, joined by Ferrari, with Paul Aron driving on Tuesday, and Colapinto and Pierre Gasly splitting duties on Wednesday.
- Test objective: Pirelli's program focuses on validating new tyre constructions and developing the softest compounds.
- Alpine's activities: Alpine was also conducting private testing with a 2023 car alongside the Pirelli program.
What's next
While a setback, Colapinto had shown improved personal performance in Hungary, outqualifying Gasly and demonstrating better race pace despite team pitstop errors. If he remains in the car after the summer break, starting from Zandvoort, he will return to circuits where he has prior F1 experience, having previously replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams from the 2024 Italian GP.
