the Argentine, with an open heart, on the cover of Forbes

everyone talks about Franco Colapinto. Yes, since his arrival in Formula 1, the Argentine has caused a true revolution among motorsport fans. To the results achieved (12th place in his debut, he achieved his first 4 points in his second race with an 8th place, 11th in the third and added again with 10th place in the United States), he adds a special charisma, which makes him a trend on social networks with every step he takes and even assured him a place, beyond the sports headlines, on the cover of the most prestigious media. So much so that in the run-up to Mexican Grand Prixthe pilot of Williams It’s the cover of Forbes magazine.

The Mexican version of the popular publication that profiles the most influential (and richest) personalities on the planet, chose Franco for its central note titled “Time is fast.” In a great report he reviews how he swept the Spanish F4 at just 15 years old, his brilliant performance at Le Mans in 2021 (where he became the youngest driver in history to race and lead the legendary race) and his rise to the Formula 1 by James Vowles.

“I never, never thought that the debut would be like this. Of course, being a reserve driver, you are always prepared to get (in the car) at any moment, and I was, both physically and mentally, in case that opportunity came. Thanks to God, it came this year. It was something that everyone on my team wanted, and so we worked very hard. I had had a free practice a little earlier, this year, and it went very well. That put me closer by the time. team had to make that choice and make the decision. You never choose when you come to Formula 1, and it was a bit crazybut I think I am proving that I deserve my place in the category and that is what we are trying to do: leave that mark in the category, which is what I always dreamed of, that I deserve a seat. Everything is going very well and, the truth is, I am really enjoying everything that is happening to me,” the Argentine started.

Franco told how he is getting familiar with the FW46, the Williams car that is a true missile next to everything he had driven so far: “I have more and more confidence with the car, with the team, I feel very good at the top of the Williams and little by little I began to understand the car more, becoming a little more familiar (…) Sometimes it is difficult to understand that you can turn so quickly in a curve, mentally it is complicated, but the truth is that what a Formula 1 generates is incredible “The feeling that it gives the pilot, the speed is something unique.”

Colapinto reviewed how he prepared from the age of 14 to reach the highest category. From the day that at that young age he decided to leave Argentina to settle in Europe to the support of all those who accompany him to live up to the super professionalism that F1 demands “My work team is enormous, I have María (Catarineu ) and Jamie (Campbell-Walter), who have been working with me for a long time, after my debut in F4, they began to support me blindly, they gave me a huge hand, helping me fulfill my dream of reaching F1. grateful to them. It was a dream that we all had, between the three of us, and now we carry it out. We are where we wanted to be, enjoying ourselves together, because it is a team effort, each of us doing our best, we managed to get there. to that place, which seemed so complicated. And although at some point it seemed like it was very far away and we were about to give up, in the end they always told me that I had to keep fighting, and, honestly, I kept doing it for my dreams, but also thanks to them, to all the support I had from my managers, who never let go of my hand and always accompanied me to get here.”

How do you handle your head? “I had many difficult moments and I always worked, from very young with my psychologist (since I was 12 years old). That helped me be ready for such a complicated situation as jumping into a Formula 1 car later than in the middle of the season. It was crazy. And having been so firm in the head… it was all thanks to him, to the work he did for so many years and to the preparation we had to do over time to reach this moment. Having a country behind, Argentina, is something very nice. The truth is that I enjoy it very much; I don’t feel a bit of pressure: I just live it with joy“continued Franco, who highlighted the work of his therapist, Gustavo Ruiz, without holding anything back.

Despite being Argentine, Franco left our country so quickly that these are his first races “in America”, as he explained. The first experiences in the United States were more than satisfactory: a masterful performance highlighted by Williams’ boss (at this point, his mentor) James Vowles with points included.

In addition, the Argentine detailed his favorite circuits: “Baku is one of my favorites. I didn’t know it and it is a circuit that I enjoyed driving. I didn’t have the chance to race many street circuits in my racing career, but driving a Formula 1 there “It was very nice. The castle part, one of the most difficult areas and curves, I think, on the calendar, was great.”

The note was made before the race last weekend. And Franco put chips in the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin. The results say that he was not wrong: “It is super fast, with curves and counter-curves at very high speed, very challenging for an F1, because it is where you use all the aerodynamic load.”

Without “selling smoke” despite speaking to a Mexican publication, Colapinto closed his circuit podium with Brazil, where he knows it will be full of Argentines: “And the other circuit (among the three favorites) is Brazil (São Paulo). It’s the closest race I have (scheduled) to home and it’s an old school circuit, which I don’t know either, but I’ve seen it many times. So it’s going to be one of my favorite races, even. for the atmosphere and, obviously, for all the people who will be there. I think it will be a weekend for everyone to enjoy.”