Franco Colapinto emerged unscathed from a crash during a Pirelli tyre test at the Hungaroring on Wednesday. The Formula 1 tyre supplier had various teams test driving the tyres for 2026 this week. Alpine was also present, although the test did not go without problems for the French racing team – regular driver Colapinto ended up in the wall in turn eleven. After a medical examination, Alpine declared that the young Argentinean is ‘okay’.
Alpine is participating in Pirelli’s latest two-day tyre test, along with McLaren and Racing Bulls. The teams stayed at the Hungaroring this week to contribute to the development of the new tyres for 2026. After test and reserve driver Paul Aron drove for Alpine on Tuesday, it was Franco Colapinto’s turn on Wednesday. He got behind the wheel of his trusted A525, but failed to keep the car intact; he crashed into the wall in turn eleven. Footage on social media shows that he took a heavy hit.
Colapinto’s Future in Jeopardy
Colapinto, who impressed last season as a substitute at Williams, has yet to score his first points this year. After a series of disappointing races, his future in Formula 1 is increasingly under pressure. During the recent Hungarian GP, he started fourteenth but fell back to P18 in the race.
The two-day tyre test by Pirelli follows the upcoming regulatory changes within Formula 1. From 2026, the cars will be smaller and more agile, and the power will be evenly distributed between a combustion engine and a battery. Of course, new tyres are also part of the new cars.
