Franco Colapinto draws Argentinians to Brazil regardless of results

SAO PAULO – The driver at the bottom of the 2025 Formula One drivers’ standings has been one of the biggest draws at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Argentinian fans flocking to cheer on Franco Colapinto at Interlagos.

His Alpine team are rooted to the bottom of the championship but Colapinto – who crashed out early in the Nov 8 sprint race and was then 18th out of 19 on track in qualifying – is box office. The main race ended after press time.

With the 22-year-old assured of a seat for the 2026 season, after being confirmed on Nov 7 as continuing teammate for Pierre Gasly, there is little likelihood of his popularity dimming.

Argentina has not hosted a Formula One race since 1998, making Sao Paulo the nearest grand prix to home. Spanish has become a second language on the grandstands.

“Franco brings us joy again and we’re proud of him,” said long-time F1 fan Julio Giulietti, who travelled 2,000 km from Necochea in Buenos Aires province to attend his first grand prix with friend Raul Perez.

“The results don’t matter to us any more; what matters is the attitude Franco has shown lately.”

He referenced Colapinto’s defiance of team orders to overtake Gasly during the Austin race.

Nicolas Otero, an Argentinian who travelled from Costa Rica, said Colapinto’s potential was evident.

“This year, things haven’t worked out because the team isn’t at its best either,” he said.

Colapinto debuted with Williams in late 2024, becoming the first Argentinian on the grid since 2001 and following in the footsteps of greats like Juan Manuel Fangio and Carlos Reutemann.

He secured a seat at Alpine after the team replaced Australian Jack Doohan following the first six races.

On Nov 6, Colapinto expressed his gratitude to the travelling support.

“If I dreamt about one thing, it was to be racing in Brazil, to be racing in Interlagos, with all these fans, with all the people supporting me... they have been doing a massive effort to support me,” he said.

Williams boss James Vowles praised Colapinto’s “big turnaround” in the last races and mentioned the driver’s “huge following”: “He’s showing the world the performance I saw when he was with Williams.

“I think he’s earned that seat for next year... I think he’s got a bright future.”

Despite the historical football rivalry between Brazil and Argentina, Colapinto described the country as “like a second home” and highlighted his friendship with Sauber’s Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

“In motor sport, we are 20 drivers, we are racing against Europeans, from many other places in the world, and I think Brazil and Argentina are united in this sport,” he said.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris won a Nov 8 Saturday sprint to move nine points clear in the drivers’ standings and then seized pole position for the main race as his two main rivals stumbled.

While his teammate and closest rival Oscar Piastri crashed in the sprint and qualified fourth, Norris put himself on track to stretch his lead significantly.

Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen, third overall in the standings but 39 points behind in his chase for a fifth successive title, ruled himself out of the reckoning after qualifying 16th.

Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli, 19, joined Norris on the front row, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualifying third. REUTERS