Pierre Gasly Crashes in Spa Practice, Explains the Cause

**Pierre Gasly** wrecked his Alpine in second practice at the Belgian Grand Prix on 17 July 2026, blaming a sudden snap that flung the rear of the car into the barrier and ripped off the rear wing and tyre.

What happened?

During the latter part of FP2, Gasly entered the Fagnes chicane and lost rear grip. A sharp snap sent the car sideways, sending it onto the gravel before the rear end slammed into the wall. The impact stripped the rear wing and right‑rear tyre from the chassis, forcing officials to red‑flag the session.

Why did it matter for Pierre Gasly?

The incident cost Alpine valuable track time and left Gasly 18th overall, eleven places behind teammate Franco Colapinto. A damaged car meant the team had to rebuild components overnight, limiting data collection for the race weekend. Gasly’s comments showed he remained optimistic, stressing the need to recover the lost time and aim for a top‑10 finish.

What did the team say?

Alpine’s managing director Steve Nielsen described the event as a “small snap” at Turn 14 that put the car on the kerb and then into the barrier. He noted that on many circuits the mistake would be less costly, but Spa’s unforgiving layout punished the error harshly. Nielsen added that such incidents happen and the team would work to get the car back together for Saturday.

What comes next?

Gasly highlighted the amount of testing completed across both cars during the weekend, saying the team now needs to evaluate the data and choose the best settings for race day. He expects the rebuilt car to be ready for qualifying, with a focus on consistency and extracting performance to climb the order. The French driver’s upbeat tone suggests he will push hard despite the setback.

How does this affect the weekend outlook?

With the car repaired, Alpine will head into qualifying hoping to improve on the 18th‑place practice result. Gasly’s determination to reach the top ten reflects his confidence in the team’s ability to adapt. If the car performs as expected, the Frenchman could challenge the midfield pack and potentially score points, turning a difficult practice into a competitive race.