Franco Colapinto

Bio

Franco Colapinto was born on May 27, 2003, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He grew up dreaming of F1 in a country with a rich motorsport heritage — Argentina produced Juan Manuel Fangio, widely considered one of the greatest drivers of all time, along with Carlos Reutemann and other F1 competitors. Colapinto began his racing career in karting before moving to Europe to compete in the junior single-seater categories. Colapinto's European career included stints in Formula Renault, Spanish Formula 4, and Formula Regional, where he steadily developed his skills. He then progressed to Formula 2, competing for MP Motorsport and later Campos Racing, where he showed flashes of strong pace and racecraft. His F1 break came in dramatic fashion during the 2024 season when Williams needed a mid-season replacement. Colapinto was drafted in and immediately turned heads with his composure and speed. He scored points in his early races — a remarkable achievement for a driver thrown into F1 with minimal preparation — and quickly earned the respect of the paddock for his adaptability and racecraft. Colapinto became the first Argentine driver in F1 since Gastón Mazzacane in 2001, reigniting passion for the sport across South America. His smooth driving style, ability to learn circuits rapidly, and mature approach to racing belie his young age. He carries the weight of an entire nation's motorsport hopes, but has shown he has the talent and temperament to handle the pressure. His impressive mid-season debut secured his future in Formula 1, and he now races with the ambition of putting Argentina back on the F1 map permanently.