Massive Colapinto crash red-flags F1 Imola GP qualifying again

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 having cost Mercedes duo Russell and 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 on the sidelines by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Haas duo 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 laptime – which would have easily been enough for Q2 – was not reinstated.

The 21-year-old Argentinian 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.