An Unlikely Journey: From Pilar to Formula 1
Not many teenagers picture themselves tearing up tracks across the globe, but Franco Colapinto was already knee-deep in competition by age nine. Born in 2003 in Pilar, just outside Buenos Aires, he found himself drawn to the adrenaline of karting before most kids his age had mastered two wheels. His knack for racing quickly turned into trophies, winning both regional and national karting titles across Argentina. That wasn’t enough—Franco’s eyes were on the bigger prize. By his mid-teens, he had jumped straight into the world of junior single-seaters, where the names on the timing sheet got tougher and the expectations higher.
His real turning point came in 2019, when he clinched the F4 Spanish Championship. That title wasn’t just a line on his racing resume; it fired up interest from European teams and marked him as one to watch. In 2020, Franco split his time between two tough battlegrounds: the Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand. He finished third in both, proving he was more than a one-season wonder.
Climbing the Ladder: Sportscars, F3, and an F1 Break
Instead of settling in, Colapinto kept diversifying. He took a shot at sports car racing in the Asian Le Mans Series (LMP2 category) in 2021, and even here he was quick, grabbing third overall. On the single-seater side, he juggled another year in Formula Regional European, learning the art of survival in a field crammed with future stars.
The logical next step was FIA Formula 3, and by 2022 Franco was there. Within a year, he moved up to F2. That jump caught the eye of the Alpine team, but Williams, always on the lookout for young talent, pulled Colapinto into their Driver Academy in 2023. For Argentine fans, his F1 debut at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix—replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams—was a huge moment. No Argentine had started an F1 race since Gastón Mazzacane’s last lap in 2001. On his debut, Franco didn’t just make up the numbers, he scored points and notched an eighth-place race result, showing he could handle the step up.
The F1 world is never predictable. When Williams snapped up Carlos Sainz Jr. for 2025, Colapinto found himself on the move, taking a reserve role at Alpine. As always, F1’s mid-season shuffles created another opening: Jack Doohan was out for five rounds, so Franco was thrust back into the spotlight—this time in Alpine blue. He’s grabbed 5 points so far, and while that might not shake up the title fight, it’s a big deal for an Argentine rookie in his first races.
Franco isn’t driving alone in spirit. He often gets compared to two other big names: his Williams teammate Alex Albon, who showed what steady progress looks like, and revered Argentine drivers like Carlos Reutemann—a Williams legend—and Gastón Mazzacane. If you’re an Argentina racing fan, these names ring out. Now, Franco Colapinto is the next chapter, aiming to keep Argentina’s F1 tradition alive, one race at a time.
May, 8 2025