Franco Colapinto Suffers Accident in Pirelli Tire Test
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto suffered an accident during a Pirelli tire test at the Hungaroring on Wednesday.
Colapinto was taken to the circuit’s medical center after the incident. Alpine confirmed in a statement that the Argentinian driver was “fine”.
“During the second day of Pirelli tire testing at the Hungaroring this morning, Franco Colapinto had an incident at Turn 11,” Alpine stated in a statement. “Franco was evaluated at the medical center and is fine.”
Colapinto, loaned to Alpine by Williams, replaced Jack Doohan earlier this year, but has struggled to achieve results alongside teammate Pierre Gasly and has failed to score points.It has been speculated that he could be replaced by Doohan, reserve driver Paul Aron, or even Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas before the end of this season.
Colapinto’s accident at the Hungaroring occurred after a race weekend at the same circuit in which he outperformed in qualifying and finished ahead of Gasly.
The Curve 11 is a high-speed right-hand turn (142 mph) with not much run-off beyond the exit kerb. Alpine did not offer details on how the accident occurred.
Colapinto was chosen by Alpine after his nine races with Williams in the second half of the 2024 season, in which he scored five points.
The two-day test at the Hungaroring is taking place to evaluate Pirelli’s 2026 tires, which are slightly narrower than the current ones and are part of a much broader regulatory overhaul for next season.
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Alpine was on track for both days, with Aron at the wheel on Tuesday for the Pirelli test and Colapinto and Gasly scheduled to share on Wednesday. Tire tests were being completed on this year’s car, while Alpine also had a 2023 car present at the test for Colapinto and Gasly.
After McLaren and Racing Bulls participated in Tuesday’s tests, Ferrari is on track on Wednesday with a modified version of this year’s SF-25, designed to replicate the performance of a 2026 car in corners and on straights.
The test aims to conduct a final evaluation on the construction of tires for 2026, which must be signed and approved before September 1st.
Work on the compounds for next season will continue for six more days of testing at the end of the year before they are signed on December 15.
We have collected a lot of data, although it was a shame that we lost some of our potential mileage today when Colapinto went off track, although this was in no way related to the tires.
Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport boss
Isola added that, despite Colapinto’s accident, the session was productive.
“Regarding construction, we have verified our final solutions with respect to homologation, in view of the entry into force of the regulations on September 1st. On the contrary, we now have three more test sessions – in Monza, Mugello and Mexico City – to conclude the development of the compounds, whose homologation is scheduled for December 15th.”
