Massive Franco Colapinto crash red-flags F1 Imola GP qualifying again
Alpine's Franco Colapinto unhurt in Imola F1 qualifying crash, minutes after a big hit for Yuki Tsunoda
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Qualifying for Formula 1's Imola Grand Prix has been red-flagged a second time for a crash by Alpine driver Franco Colapinto.
On his final flyer at the end of Q1 Colapinto, who is making his 2025 season debut with Alpine this weekend, dipped his wheels onto the grass on the exit of Tamburello, the first corner sequence at Imola.
That error sent the Argentinian spinning into the gravel trap before hitting the barriers head on, fortunately at reduced speed.
Colapinto signalled he was okay to his team before climbing out. It was the second heavy smash in Q1 following a violent accident for Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda at the next corner sequence, the Villeneuve chicane.
Tsunoda went backwards into the tyre barriers and was sent into a barrel roll, but landed the right side up and climbed out unhurt.
Colapinto had advanced to Q2 in 14th but will likely get a grid penalty for being released into the pitlane early under the first red flag, with a similar incident in Bahrain costing Mercedes duo George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli a one-place grid drop.
As a result of Colapinto's accident, Liam Lawson was unable to complete a final flyer, dumping him out in 16th. The Racing Bulls man was joined by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Haas pair Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
Bearman felt he had completed his final lap before the red flag came out, but following checks by race control his lap time – which would have easily been enough for Q2 – was not reinstated.
Colapinto replaces Jack Doohan at Alpine from the weekend onwards, joining the Enstone squad after a nine-race stint with Williams in 2024.
The start of Q2 had to be delayed for tyre barrier repairs at Tamburello.
Photos from Imola GP - Practice & Qualifying
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Saturday
Share Or Save This Story
Top Comments
What happened to McLaren's pace advantage on Red Bull at F1 Imola GP?
The winners and losers from F1's 2025 Imola GP
Lewis Hamilton's relief after positive F1 Imola GP result
Franco Colapinto hit with F1 Imola GP grid penalty
Flavio Briatore denies Alpine’s five-race F1 plan for Franco Colapinto
Franco Colapinto shuts down talk of having just five F1 races to prove himself at Alpine
Pierre Gasly: Alpine in “much better place” at Imola GP despite crash with rabbit
Esteban Ocon: Alpine’s F1 driver switch is wrong
Oliver Bearman slams Alpine F1’s “incredibly harsh” handling of Jack Doohan
Lopez named as Toyota Hypercar reserve for WEC's Le Mans 24 Hours
Alpine, FIA condemn online abuse of Tsunoda at F1 Imola GP
McLaren: Imola is a missed chance that goes beyond the strategy topic
F1 inks deal with Disney for Mickey Mouse merchandise
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
