In Argentina, he has already achieved superstar status. Franco Colapinto has stolen everyone’s hearts in just a few months, including that of Lionel Messi. “He has never been given anything in his life.”
This month, 21-year-old Colapinto graces the cover of the prestigious Forbes magazine in Mexico, an honor reserved for only a select few. The Argentine has made an impression since his Formula 1 debut in early September with Williams, stepping in for Logan Sargeant. Colapinto is a rising star in Latin America. But who is this newcomer, shaped and molded in the feeder classes by the Dutch MP Motorsport? We asked insiders in the paddock who are familiar with him.
Nelson Valkenburg, F1 commentator Viaplay: “Especially when Franco was younger, he was a bit of a wild child behind the wheel. He was already super fast, just not consistent. He made a lot of mistakes. This was because he had no money. He could never test, started races at a disadvantage and always had to make up for it by overpushing. That’s no longer necessary. In Formula 2 and Formula 3, you saw him settle down.
His noticeable performance and success show how much talent there really is and how many F1-worthy drivers there are. No one said about him: he is the super talent. The performances of Kimi Antonelli (next year Mercedes) and Oliver Bearman (next year Haas) also show that you have to look beyond the results. But everyone who has worked with Colapinto was convinced that he is good enough for Formula 1. He has become mentally more resilient, the people around him really had to guide him in that respect, so that he became calmer. He is a true Latino and he now brings that to the circuit.
Insights from F1 Observers and Colapinto’s Manager
Juan Fossaroli, Argentine F1 follower for FOX Sports: “I’ve known Franco for a long time. When I was already covering Formula 1, he was starting out in karting. Did you know that he participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in 2018? He won the karting race there, which was a demonstration sport at the time. He has always performed well, but nobody in the world knew who Franco was. When he entered Formula 3, we started to build a relationship. He is still the same, nice guy and in my eyes, a super talent.”
Jamie Campbell-Walter, Colapinto’s manager: “Franco’s parents sent him to Europe alone at the age of fourteen, he was homeschooled online. He started as a development driver at CRG, an Italian karting team, and lived above the factory. Although he participated in races, he often drove with parts and engines for the following year. His karting career was not remarkable, as he had no money. CRG recognized his talent, which is why he was allowed to drive as a development driver for free. At the end of 2018, his father paid for a race in the Spanish F4. Maria, now my wife, was the manager of the team he drove for. Franco had never driven a car before, yet he won one of the three races.”
