Franco Colapinto’s already precarious position at Alpine took another hit on Wednesday when the Argentine driver crashed during Pirelli’s crucial 2026 tire testing at the Hungaroring. The incident at Turn 11 – a high-speed 142-mph right-hander with minimal run-off – sent the under-pressure driver to the circuit medical center, though Alpine confirmed he was “OK” after assessment.
This couldn’t have come at a worse time for Colapinto, who’s been fighting for his Formula 1 survival since joining Alpine on loan from Williams earlier this season. The crash follows weeks of intense speculation that he could be rotated out of the seat before the season ends, with Jack Doohan, reserve driver Paul Aron, or even Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas all mentioned as potential replacements.
The 2026 tire test itself was absolutely crucial for Formula 1’s future, with teams evaluating Pirelli’s narrower tire construction that will be part of the sport’s massive regulation overhaul. Alpine was running both this year’s car and a 2023 machine, giving drivers valuable experience with the new rubber ahead of the regulation changes. Losing track time due to Colapinto’s incident certainly didn’t help Alpine’s data collection efforts.
Colapinto’s Alpine stint has been a stark contrast to his impressive nine-race cameo with Williams in the second half of 2024, where he scored five points and showed genuine promise. Since switching to the French team, he’s struggled to adapt to the tricky Alpine package and hasn’t managed to score a single point alongside the experienced Gasly.
With Ferrari also on track Wednesday testing their modified SF-25 designed to replicate 2026 performance characteristics, every team is scrambling to understand these crucial tire changes ahead of F1’s biggest regulatory shake-up in years. Losing testing time due to crashes is something no team can afford at this critical juncture.
The incident also highlights the intense pressure facing drivers in precarious positions. When your seat is constantly under threat, every session becomes do-or-die, and that pressure can sometimes lead to exactly the kind of mistakes you’re trying to avoid. For Colapinto, this crash represents another setback in what’s already been a challenging season of adaptation and survival. Stay on top of all the F1 driver market drama and testing news at Supercars.com.GH – your go-to source for the latest paddock developments!