Franco Colapinto’s much-anticipated return to Formula 1 didn’t go as planned. In his first qualifying session of the season, the Argentine driver, now with Alpine, suffered a terrifying crash during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola—an accident so violent it left fans and teams holding their breath.

A Costly Mistake at the Worst Time

After missing the first six races of the season, Colapinto was finally given the chance to return to the grid, replacing Jack Doohan as Alpine’s main driver. Having raced the final nine rounds of last season with Williams, this was supposed to be a fresh start.

But in the closing seconds of Q1, as he pushed for a lap that could get him into Q2, Colapinto made a crucial mistake. Entering Turn 3, he clipped the gravel with his rear right tire, lost control, and smashed into the barriers—bringing out a red flag and halting the session.

Though he walked away unharmed, the car sustained serious damage. He’s set to start 15th on the grid for Sunday’s race (13:00 GMT), but a potential grid penalty looms if key components like the gearbox or engine need replacing.

A Rough Saturday in Imola

Colapinto’s crash wasn’t the only drama in Q1. Earlier in the session, a separate incident involving Yuki Tsunoda also brought out a red flag, making it one of the most chaotic qualifying sessions of the year so far.

Despite the setback, Colapinto remained positive when speaking in the paddock. He emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and hopes to bounce back during the race. In F1, every lap counts, but so does every mistake—and the margins are razor-thin.

His return to Formula 1 may have come with a harsh lesson, but Colapinto still has time to prove he belongs at the highest level.