Max Verstappen called Franco Colapinto a “STUPID Argentinian” to provoke and anger him after a serious crash during a Pirelli tire test at the Hungaroring. Five minutes later, Colapinto uttered eight harsh words that silenced Verstappen and the Formula 1 world.
On a day that promised to be a straightforward routine at the Hungarring Circuit, Formula 1 was the scene of an episode that left the world of sports speechless. During Pirelli tire testing for the 2026 season, Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto, of the Alpine Stable team, was involved in a violent accident at Turn 11, one of the fastest and most feared for the Hungarian circuit. The incident not only raised concerns about the condition of the car and the driver, but also sparked an unexpected verbal altercation between Colapinto and four-time world champion Max Verstappen, which sparked controversy on social media and promises to be a hot topic in the coming days.
The accident occurred during the second day of testing organized by Pirelli, where Alpine, Ferrari, McLaren, and Racing Bulls were working on tire development for the 2026 season. These tests, designed to evaluate tighter compounds adapted to new technical regulations, are crucial for teams, but they also carry risk due to the experimental car configurations. In Alpine’s case, the team opted for a lighter configuration to simulate the 2026 conditions, which some experts believe may have contributed to Colapinto’s mistake.
The 22-year-old Argentinian driver lost control of his Alpine A525 in turn 11, a right-hand bend at over 230 km/h (143 mph), historically a critical point on the circuit, as evidenced by the accidents of Sergio Pérez in 2015 and Lewis Hamilton in 2016. The “Carapinto” car struck the barriers, causing significant damage to the front and sides of the car. Images of the damaged car, shared by fans on social media, quickly circulated, raising concerns among the South American driver’s fans.
Alpine didn’t take long to reassure its fans. In an official statement, the team said: “On the second day of Pirelli tire tests at the Hungarring this morning, Franco Colapinto was the victim of an accident at Turn 11. Franco was examined at the medical center and is doing well.” Argentinian journalist Adrián Puente, present at the circuit, confirmed the good news by publishing a video showing Colapinto walking in the paddock, apparently unharmed. “Franco is doing well, Franco is passing, Franco is speaking. Unfortunately, his car is temporarily immobilized, but it is in excellent condition,” Puente said on social media.
But what seemed like an isolated incident quickly turned into a drama of unexpected proportions. According to sources close to the paddock, Max Verstappen, current championship leader and Red Bull driver, seized the opportunity to provoke Colapinto with an off-color remark. Witnesses claim Verstappen treated the Argentinian “silver silver” to mock the incident, perhaps poking fun at the young driver in a moment of vulnerability. Colapinto’s reaction was immediate, and his response left everyone, including Verstappen, speechless.
Just five minutes after Verstappen’s words, Colarpinto, visibly upset but with a calmness that surprised everyone, uttered eight words that resonated in the paddock: “Talk on the track, not with your mouth.” This direct and brutal response not only reduced Dutch, but also attracted the attention of the media and social networks Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. The Latin community, always passionate about its representatives in Formula 1, transformed these words into a symbol of pride and resilience.
The verbal dispute between the two drivers added a touch of intrigue to Alpine’s already difficult season. The French team, which is having a difficult year, failed to score points at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where Colapinto finished 18th after standings problems and an ineffective strategy. Despite outperforming his teammate Pierre Gasly in qualifying, the Argentinian has not yet achieved results up to his potential, fueling speculation about his future within the team. Far from weakening his resolve, this incident with Verstappen seems to have strengthened his resolve.
Verstappen, known for his competitive spirit and outspokenness, has not publicly commented on the incident, but his silence is eloquent. The Dutchman, who also had a difficult weekend in Hungary, finishing ninth in the first test session and fourteenth in the second, appears to have underestimated Colarito’s potential. The rivalry between the two drivers, though on the rise, promises to write a new chapter in Formula 1 history, especially during the season’s resumption in Zandvoort at the end of August.
Het Colapinto -ongeval heeft ook de vereisten van de Pirelli -tests benadrukt. Mario Isola, director of the Pirelli team, explained: “Unfortunately, the program was only partially completed, because Alpine was forced to interrupt the tests following the ColariTo track exit. At that time, the Argentinian pilot had completed 25 laps, with a better time in 1: 20.270. Isola said the incident was not linked to tires, but probably to the car settings, strengthening the theory that aerodynamic support could hebben een sleutelrol gespeeld.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 is entering its summer break, but this incident guarantees that negotiations will not stop. Fans are already speculating about the evolution of the relationship between Verstappen and Colapinto and the possibility that this confrontation marks a turning point in the Argentine’s career. In a sport where psychological pressure is just as important as performance on track, Colapinto’s reaction demonstrated that it was not just speed, but also character.
As the Dutch Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on these two drivers. Will Colapinto manage to channel his anger into results? Will Verstappen attempt to return to the country lost to another provocation? Formula 1, with its blend of speed, strategy, and excitement, continues to surprise. And this time, a young Argentinian reminded the world that words on the track can be just as powerful as the engines.
