A large Franco Colapinto crash has disrupted Alpine’s Pirelli 2026 Formula 1 tyre testing programme at the Hungaroring.
Following last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, several teams stayed at the Budapest track to support the latest 2026 development work organised by Pirelli.
Alpine, McLaren and Racing Bulls participated in the first day of the test on Tuesday, with Alpine then staying on for a second day - joined by Ferrari.
Paul Aron drove for Alpine on the first day with race drivers Colapinto and Pierre Gasly splitting Wednesday duties.
However, Colapinto has had a heavy accident early in his programme, which looks set to bring Alpine’s day of Pirelli running to an early end.
Colapinto crashed at the fast Turn 11 right-hander, causing extensive damage to the car. He was checked at the medical centre on-site and is OK.
The purpose of the Pirelli test is to validate constructions that must be homologated by September 1 and develop the softest compounds, mainly the C3 to the C5.
Colapinto's crash ended running in the team's current car, but it is dovetailing this test with its own private running in a 2023 car, which continues.
Gasly drove the A523 this morning and Colapinto is driving it this afternoon.
The crash is a setback for Colapinto, who has yet to score a point since replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine after six races.
Despite Alpine’s disappointing final weekend before the summer break, Colapinto had been buoyed by a more personally competitive showing in Hungary, where he outqualified Gasly and would have finished comfortably ahead but for two slow pitstops by the team.
If he stays in the car at the resumption of the season, after Zandvoort, he will return to all the tracks he already raced at in F1 after replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams from the 2024 Italian GP onwards.
