Franco Colapinto, who took over from Australian driver Jack Doohan at Alpine, has been given the remainder of the season to rescue his Formula 1 career. Since his arrival earlier this year, Colapinto has struggled, failing to earn any points and facing further scrutiny after crashing into barriers during Pirelli tyre testing at the Hungaroring.
Following the incident, an Alpine representative confirmed that Colapinto was evaluated by medical staff at the scene and found to be uninjured, despite losing control of his car at the challenging turn 11. Pirelli’s Mario Isola clarified that the crash was not related to tyre performance.
During the testing, Isola highlighted the difficulties of the Hungaroring, noting that it’s a demanding circuit full of slow corners that puts considerable stress on tyres, particularly for the compounds being developed for the 2026 racing season.
Colapinto’s performance in Grand Prix events has also been less than stellar, with only two finishes above 15th place, achieving 13th in both Monaco and Canada. Despite these challenges, Alpine is willing to give him until the season’s end to demonstrate his potential.
Jack Doohan, who was replaced by Colapinto, remains hopeful for another chance to showcase his abilities, while the team also has Paul Aron lined up for a possible debut in Formula 1. The coming races will be crucial for Colapinto as he seeks to secure his position within the team and make a mark in the sport.