Under pressure F1 star needs medical check after unseen testing crash

Lewis Hamilton might have told Ferrari to replace him but Alpine’s Franco Colapinto could be the next Formula 1 driver removed from the grid.

The Argentine continued his pointless season last time out at the Hungarian Grand Prix and has since stuck around, only to suffer more problems at a tyre test.

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Five teams stuck around at the Hungaroring for a test organised by suppliers Pirelli, which can also be used as a chance to get more miles on the clock for drivers.

However, on the second day Colapinto delayed the running with a nasty-looking crash into the barriers at turn 11.

Amid the serious damage the Alpine had a wheel broken off and front wing gone, with the back of the car lodged into a tyre wall.

And to back up its severity, the team confirmed that Colapinto required a check at the track’s medical centre.

“During Day 2 of Pirelli Tyre Testing at the Hungaroring this morning, Franco Colapinto had an incident at Turn 11,” they wrote on social media.

“Franco was assessed on site at the medical centre and is OK.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for Colapinto, who is now eight races without scoring a point.

The 22-year-old had a very underwhelming junior career but arrived at Williams as a replacement for Logan Sargeant halfway through the 2024 campaign and instantly impressed with two point-scoring finishes.

Williams appeared to be interested in offering him a long-term deal, but the availability of four-time race winner Carlos Sainz made his farewell a certainty.

Colapinto would go on to sign as Alpine’s third driver for the 2025 season and after just six races he was called up to replace Australian Jack Doohan.

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His results in comparison to teammate Pierre Gasly have been more or less the same, but the timing of his latest gaffe couldn’t be much worse.

F1 is now on a three-week summer break which is usually the time driver contracts are signed and moves are made.

Alpine had already been linked with a switch to the vastly more experienced Valtteri Bottas, but with the Finn rumoured to have signed for Cadillac in 2026, attention is switching to his fellow race winner – Sergio Perez.

F1 Insider Ralf Bach explained: “Briatore continues to view Colapinto critically.

“And anyone who knows Briatore knows he already has different ideas about the future.

“I don’t think it’s a secret Briatore has spoken with Bottas, but I also believe Perez shouldn’t be underestimated. He brings experience — and millions again thanks to Carlos Slim, who wants to bring him back to Formula 1.

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“Briatore definitely sees a win-win situation if he gets Perez, and I wouldn’t rule out that happening.”