Alpine has issued an official statement following an accident involving Franco Colapinto during Pirelli tyre testing at the Hungaroring. The 22-year-old Argentine, who stepped in for Jack Doohan earlier this season, endured a challenging Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing 18th and ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly. However, his woes continued during post-race testing when he suffered an incident at Turn 11 on Day 2 of the tyre program.
The team confirmed the mishap via social media, stating: “Team Update: 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.” Images of the damaged car quickly circulated online, intensifying speculation about the severity of the crash.
With Formula 1 entering its summer break, several teams, including Alpine, McLaren, and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, have been conducting tyre evaluations in preparation for the 2026 regulatory overhaul. Modified cars were deployed to replicate the anticipated load dynamics of the new era, with Pirelli developing tyres that will feature a narrower profile—25mm less at the front and 30mm at the rear.
The testing sessions also produced notable lap times. Lando Norris impressed with a lap 0.646 seconds quicker than his fastest race lap from his recent Hungarian GP victory, though this was eclipsed by Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron, who clocked a personal best of 1:18.789. For context, Norris’ top test lap was over three seconds adrift of his Q3 benchmark last Saturday.
As the paddock regroups ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort later this month, attention now shifts to ensuring Colapinto’s recovery and Alpine’s readiness for both the current campaign and the seismic changes looming in 2026.
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