Formula 1’s Imola Grand Prix Qualifying Disrupted by Franco Colapinto’s Crash

The qualifying session for the Imola Grand Prix has been marred by a second red flag, this time due to a crash involving Alpine driver Franco Colapinto. In his final attempt at the end of Q1, Colapinto, making his 2025 season debut with this weekend, lost control and spun into the gravel trap after drifting onto the grass on the exit of Tamburello, the first corner sequence at Imola.

Franco Colapinto’s Crash: A Close Call

Fortunately, Colapinto emerged unscathed from the accident, signaling to his team that he was okay before climbing out. However, this wasn’t the case for Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda who met with a violent accident at the Villeneuve chicane in the same session.

Tsunoda’s car went backwards into the tyre barriers and performed a barrel roll, but he managed to land right-side up and exit the vehicle unharmed. Colapinto had advanced to Q2 in 14th position, but will likely receive a grid penalty for being released early onto the pitlane under the first red flag, much like George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes did in Bahrain, resulting in a one-place grid drop.

Consequences of Colapinto’s Crash

As a result of Colapinho’s accident, Liam Lawson was unable to complete his final lap, knocking him out in 16th place. 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.

Replacement for Jack Doohan at Alpine

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 sessions are attached below.