During the second day of the Formula 1 tests in Hungary, Franco Colapinto suffered a significant accident at curve 11 of the Hungaroring circuit, which had recently hosted the European Country Grand Prix. The images paint a stark picture of the destruction of the car that the Argentine driver was piloting.
After the incident, the Alpine team swiftly issued a statement confirming that Colapinto is out of danger and under medical supervision. “During the second day of Pirelli tire tests at Hungaroring this morning, Franco Colapinto encountered an incident in curve 11. He was evaluated at the medical center and has been confirmed as well,” the team noted on their social media. Additionally, a video surfaced showing the 22-year-old driver returning to the team’s paddock on foot, captured by journalist Adrián Puente.
In accordance with FIA protocol, any driver involved in an accident during practice or a race must undergo a medical checkup.
The legendary Hungarian circuit is often referred to as “Monaco without walls” by Formula 1 specialists. Stretching just over 4,000 meters, it features 14 corners and a single DRS zone, making it a unique challenge for drivers to execute overtaking maneuvers. Colapinto had already been in the spotlight during the previous weekend, facing difficulties during his pit stops in a race won by Lando Norris of McLaren.
Wednesday emerged as the second day of testing in Hungary, where Alpine, among others, is participating in tire development for Pirelli’s 2026 formula. The Estonian pilot Paul Aron, reserves for Alpine, drove the car during Tuesday’s session.
On Wednesday, the schedule included Pierre Gasly and Colapinto himself getting behind the wheel. The team utilized two versions of their cars: the A525 (current model) and the A523 (two seasons prior), both in TPC mode (Test of Prior Car). Colapinto had previously driven the latter in tests carried out in Barcelona, Monza, Qatar, and Zandvo. He replaced Australian driver Jack Doohan for this event.
As reported by motorsport specialists such as Motorsport, both drivers were scheduled to rotate driving duties during the morning and afternoon sessions today in Hungary. In the afternoon, Gasly and Colapinto were to exchange cars to continue their testing. It remains to be seen whether Alpine manages to repair the A525 following the severe collision in curve 11.
As we await further updates on his health following the heavy impact at Hungaroring, Colapinto aims to travel to the team headquarters in Enstone. There, he will utilize the simulator to prepare for the upcoming F1 races after the summer break in Europe, namely Zandvoort in the Netherlands from August 29 to 31, followed by testing at the iconic Monza circuit from September 5 to 7.
The Argentine driver recently stated that he did not plan to take a vacation following the Hungarian Grand Prix. Instead, he clarified, “If I take a break, it will be in the following two weeks,” prior to the lengthy pause in the racing calendar.
Alpine isn’t alone in participating in the Pirelli tire tests for the 2026 season. During the same testing session, Charles Leclerc was on track with a modified Ferrari SF-25. On the first day, besides Aron, who completed 159 laps and was the fastest, both McLaren and Racing Bulls joined the session, with Lando Norris completing 144 laps and Liam Lawson managing 143 laps respectively.
During the morning of the first day, teams conducted short stints to gauge the immediate performance of each tire compound, whereas in the afternoon, the focus shifted to longer simulations. All three teams used modified cars to mount the 2026 tires, retaining the 18-inch diameter, but introducing changes: a 25 mm wider tread on the front axle and a 30 mm tread on the rear, enhancing grip and performance.