: Tops Costly Damage List After …..read more
The Miami Grand Prix turned into a nightmare weekend for and his Alpine F1 Team after a dramatic crash left the squad facing a repair bill estimated at more than $1.3 million.
Gasly endured one of the most frightening moments of the race when his car was launched into the air and flipped toward the tyre barriers following contact with . The spectacular incident not only ended the Frenchman’s race prematurely but also placed Alpine under major financial pressure as the team now faces one of the highest repair costs of the season.
The crash happened during an intense on-track battle between Gasly and Lawson as the pair fought for position late in the lap. Heading into Turn 17, Gasly positioned his Alpine alongside Lawson’s Racing Bulls machine in an aggressive but fair attempt to overtake. However, the situation quickly spiralled out of control when Lawson lost control of his car under braking.
According to Lawson, the incident was triggered by a sudden mechanical issue rather than driver error. Speaking after the race, the New Zealander explained that he experienced a gearbox problem while trying to slow the car for the corner. He revealed that the malfunction caused his tyres to lock unexpectedly, leaving him powerless to avoid contact with Gasly.
The collision sent Gasly spinning violently before his Alpine was lifted partially into the air and slammed into the tyre wall. Thankfully, despite the dramatic visuals, the French driver escaped without injury. Modern Formula One safety systems once again proved their value, protecting the driver during what could have been a far more dangerous accident.
Still, the financial consequences for Alpine are severe. Damage estimates compiled by Dense-Strategy-867 suggest that repairs to Gasly’s car alone could total close to $960,000. The heavy damage included major impacts to the suspension, floor, sidepods, and rear-end components, all of which are extremely expensive under current Formula One regulations.
Because of the sport’s strict cost cap rules, every major accident creates additional stress for teams trying to carefully manage spending throughout the season. Alpine now faces the challenge of replacing damaged parts while still maintaining enough budget flexibility for future upgrades and development work.
Gasly’s latest accident has also pushed him to the top of the unofficial driver damage standings for the season. His cumulative repair costs are now estimated to have surpassed $1.1 million, making him the driver associated with the highest financial losses so far this year — a statistic no competitor wants attached to their name.
The timing of the crash made matters even more frustrating for Alpine because teammate delivered a surprisingly strong performance during the same weekend. Colapinto managed to secure an impressive eighth-place finish, showing that Alpine’s car may have more pace than recent results have suggested.
However, Colapinto’s season has not been entirely damage-free either. Estimates suggest the Argentine driver has already accumulated around $260,000 worth of repairs during the 2026 campaign. When combined with Gasly’s incidents, Alpine’s overall damage bill has now climbed comfortably beyond the $1.3 million mark.
Elsewhere in the paddock, also added significantly to the season’s repair totals after suffering an expensive crash of his own in Miami. Even so, Hadjar still trails current damage leader in the wider standings tracking financial losses across the grid.
As the Formula One season continues, teams will be hoping for cleaner race weekends to avoid further strain on already tightly controlled budgets. For Alpine, though, Miami may become remembered less for points and performance — and more for the enormous price tag left behind by one spectacular crash.