Franco Colapinto was involved in a crash during the second morning of Pirelli’s post-Hungarian Grand Prix tyre test, Alpine has confirmed.
The two-day test at the Hungaroring featured Alpine, McLaren, Ferrari and Racing Bulls, with teams working alongside Pirelli to gather data for the 2026 tyre programme.
Colapinto took over from Alpine’s test and reserve driver Paul Aron on Wednesday, but his running came to an early end after an off-track excursion at Turn 11. The incident forced Alpine to halt his session.
Following the crash, Alpine confirmed that Colapinto had undergone medical checks and was in good condition. The team reassured fans with a short statement: “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 okay.”
Colapinto has been competing with Alpine in Formula 1 after stepping in to replace Jack Doohan earlier this season. The young Argentinian has already taken part in eight race weekends with the Enstone-based team and continues to gain experience in both race and testing environments. Alongside Colapinto, Alpine are also running Pierre Gasly at the Hungaroring test.
The session is not just about mileage for the drivers, but crucial for Pirelli as they prepare the next generation of tyres. The 2026 tyres require homologation of constructions by September 1, while prototype compounds must be finalised by December 15. This puts additional importance on every kilometre completed during these test outings.
Other notable names on track during the two-day event include McLaren’s Lando Norris, fresh from his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Their input, combined with that of Alpine’s drivers, forms part of the development effort ahead of Formula 1’s new regulations.
After the Hungarian test, Pirelli has scheduled six further days of running for its 2026 tyre programme. Two days will take place at Monza, another two at Mugello, and the final pair of sessions will be held in Mexico City, giving teams and the tyre supplier more opportunities to gather critical data before deadlines arrive.