Franco Colapinto’s exhibition proves Argentina’s passion for F1 deserves a home race

No Argentine race driver rode a Formula 1 car in nearly 20 years, but Franco Colapinto’s exhibition proved the country’s passion for the series remains unstoppable. “Other F1 drivers see [the support Colapinto has] and can’t believe it,” Colapinto manager Maria Caterineu told the Herald. “Lando Norris even said he wanted to be Franco’s friend to have so many people behind him too. This is simply wonderful.” Paid tickets sold out weeks in advance, meaning fans rushed to the free-access stands. With over half a million people in attendance, it was no surprise that queues — which started forming at 5 a.m. — circled the Palermo park and stretched over 15 blocks. As the F1 2026 season race starts, the entry was a convoluted affair, with fans growing increasingly exasperated by long waits, unclear directions and few entry points. However, once the fans took their seats and began exploring the Fan Zone, the event became more than a motoring exhibition. “It’s crazy, unbelievable,” told the press Alpine F1 head of partner experience Luca Mazzocco. “I’m Italian, so I understand so much passion, even share it, but it’s unbelievable.” Having been with the team for over 30 years, he insisted he could only compare it to Spain’s support for Fernando Alonso during the days the team was known as Renault F1. The Spaniard had two separate stints with the team, from 2003 to 2006, and then from 2008 to 2009, winning two titles in 2005 and 2006.  “At every race there’s a big group of Franco’s fans, and they never care how the race went. The passion is indescribable,” he said. The scale of the occasion did not go unnoticed by anyone, especially by Colapinto himself, who climbed onto the stage shortly before the exhibition to be interviewed in front of the roaring fans. “It’s crazy. I’m thrilled because this is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” he said. “Seeing all of you here, in my country, makes me incredibly proud. I know it’s not easy, that some of you have come from a long way around, so hopefully after this we can show F1 what we can do.” Asked if he’s going to meet Messi while he’s in the United States for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, Colapinto said he’d “love to” but “as a casual thing, not for a marketing exercise with cameras.” Defending a legacy The buildup to Colapinto’s first run left the fans hyped up, despite some delays. Argentine folk singer Soledad Pastorutti opened proceedings with a concert on stage. Then, rock band Airbag’s frontman Patricio Sardelli took to the track to play an electric guitar version of the Argentine National Anthem that had the race driver tear up.  Three Argentine Air Force planes drew the national flag on the skies using colored smoke shortly after. Photo: Colapinto Road Show/Vicky Dragonetti When Colapinto took to the streets, he drove the fans crazy. The Argentine driver did four passes during 14 minutes with the Lotus-Renault E20 from 2012, gifting plenty of donuts — ring tire marks on the asphalt — and tons of smoke to reward those who piled up early on to get a good glimpse. It was music time again with cuarteto and cumbia singer Luck Ra keeping fans on their toes, before the race driver went out again. Colapinto’s second outing proved an emotional one.  Wearing a 1950s-style helmet and waving an Argentine flag out of the cockpit, the 22 year-old waved to the fans aboard Juan Manuel Fangio’s Mercedes Benz W196 Streamliner.  It was the car the legendary Argentine driver used to win his second and third World Drivers’ titles in 1954 and 1955. Much closer to the stands than aboard the Lotus-Renault, Colapinto showed why he became an instant fan favorite, as he stopped the historic car in the middle of the Libertador Avenue to step down, meet fans and take photos. A blazing final run The day ended with another outing with the Lotus-Renault for the final 15 minutes of fun.  Being his last chance to enamour the crowd — and perhaps having earned some leniency from the Alpine mechanics — Colapinto looked a bit bolder with the V8-powered car.  After some blazing runs through Libertador, unleashing a bit more the car’s speed, Colapinto made the fans’ delight with plenty more donuts, engulfing the stands in a sea of smoke. As the outing drew to a close, the 22-year-old went berserk. Holding the car at the peak of its power right in front of the Alpine boxes, Colapinto lifted both arms in the air and pointed to the sky. The fans answered, with typical stadium chants of “Olé, olé, olé, Franco, Franco!” sparking across the different stands. He had so much fun that the car caught fire after he stopped — due to the extreme heat generated by the exhaust —  and the Alpine mechanics had to rush in to contain the emergency. Like escaping from a crime scene, Colapinto quickly boarded an open top bus to wave to the fans along the track. ‘A lovely day’ “It’s been a lovely day,” said Colapinto when interviewed aboard the bus. “These are the best fans in the world, and we’re showing F1 that we deserve a race.” Photo: Colapinto Road Show/Vicky Dragonetti At the end of the day, it will leave a big mark in Buenos Aires, and not just the rubber across Libertador Avenue. It was a “dream come true” for Franco Colapinto, but the run also left a myriad of heartwarming moments. From the young driver funnily scolding a fan who had climbed a lamp post to film him on the bus — “What are you doing there, pal? Get down!” — to Alpine F1 mechanics getting a cheer from the crowd as they rode scooters back to the pits waving an Argentine flag, or Colapinto fist pumping an infant fan at the end of the run, Argentina’s passion for the sport was on display, and F1 would do well not to ignore it.