Hamilton Avoids Collision with Colapinto After Slowdown in Australian Grand Prix Practice
Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided a high-speed collision with Alpine driver Franco Colapinto during second practice for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. The incident occurred on Friday at Albert Park, as reported by PlanetF1.com.
Colapinto experienced a mechanical issue, appearing to lose drive on the final corner and slowing dramatically on the main straight. He remained on the racing line, prompting Hamilton to take evasive action to avoid a crash. The Ferrari driver immediately reported the incident over team radio, describing Colapinto’s pace as “crazy slow.”
Stewards investigated the situation, focusing on whether Colapinto could have safely moved off the racing line given his loss of momentum. According to RacingNews365, Colapinto explained that his car suffered a “false neutral” and he was instructed by his team to stay to the left side of the track due to the location of the emergency exit.
The stewards ultimately determined that no further action was necessary, satisfied that Colapinto’s driving was not erratic. They noted that Colapinto was aware of Hamilton’s approach and was following team instructions. F1 fans have voiced criticism of Colapinto’s actions following the near miss.
Despite the incident, Colapinto is scheduled to participate in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. La Nación reports that qualifying will take place later today.
